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EDMUND SPENSER 

From a photograph 



BRITOMART 

SELECTIONS FROM 
SPENSER'S FAERY QUEENE 

BOOKS II L It' AND V 





Edited 
With Introduction and Notes 

BY 

MARY E. LITCHFIELD 





GINN & COMPANY 

boston • new YORK • CHICAGO • LONDON 







LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Codes Received 

iy«AR 1 1906 

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COPY B. '^ 



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Copyright, i8g6, iqo6 
By MARY E. LITCHFIELD 



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f 

' PREFACE 



i- 



■im'i< 



Except to the special student of literature, Britomart, 
the most charming of Spenser's heroines, is almost 
unknown. Indeed, she has for long years been wan- 
dering in the mazes of the poet's fairy-land, well-nigh 
lost to view. And yet no story in the Faery Qnceiie is 
so romantic and none has such a strong human inter- 
est as that which tells of the " lady knight." As we 
read of her adventures we are reminded of Rosalind in 
the forest of Arden. In this little book the scattered 
portions of Spenser's interesting narrative have been 
taken out and re-united. It has been necessary to omit 
stanzas and occasionally lines from the parts selected, 
but the language of the poet has in no instance been 
tampered with. In the case of writers like Dante and 
Milton, the attempt to take out and re-unite scattered 
portions would be an evident impertinence. With 
Spenser, however, a genius whose constructive ability 
did not enable him to make of a long poem an artistic 
whole, the proceeding seems justifiable. The text is 
that of the best editions, but the spelling has been 
modernized except where the modern spelling would 



iv PREFACE. 

change the sound of the word. In the elucidation of 
difficult passages the highest authorities have been con- 
sulted. The notes, however, contain only such infor- 
mation as is necessary to the intelligent study of the 
poem. In order that this study may prove a delight 
rather than a task, the notes have been placed at the 
bottom of the page, and have been so arranged that 
any portion of the narrative can be read by itself. 
Except for a few suggestions, there has been no attempt 
at tracing the allegory. 



INTRODUCTION 



^31+- 



Since every piece of literature is in a way the prod- 
uct of the age in which it is written, we must, if we 
would rightly estimate the poetry of Spenser, consider 
the circumstances amid which the poet lived and the 
events and movements that left their irqpress upon 
his character. And since Spenser's poetry has an 
important — though not the most important — place in 
the literature of the i6th century in England, it is well, 
before studying his works, to seek to know the causes 
that led to the unparalleled literary activity of the 
Elizabethan Age. 

During the century that preceded the birth of Spen- 
ser, great events followed one another in quick succes- 
sion : in 1453 Constantinople was taken by the Turks, 
and through the Greek scholars that fled to Italy the 
culture of Greece was carried into Western Europe ; 
about 1475 Caxton set up his printing-press in Eng- 
land ; Columbus discovered the New World in 1492 ; 
in 1 5 17 Luther attacked the doctrine of indulgences ; 
in 1534 Henry VIII declared himself head of the Eng- 
lish church. However, not until the reign of Elizabeth, 
with its long years of internal peace, did the conditions 
resulting from these events find adequate expression in 
English literature. Caxton fortunately set up his 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

printing-press just as the New Learning was making its 
way, bringing from Italy an enthusiasm for the classics 
and awakening among English scholars an interest in 
the study of the Bible in the original tongues. In the 
religious disturbances that darkened the reigns of 
Edward VI and Mary, the light of the New Learning 
seemed in danger of being quenched ; but, with the 
coming of Elizabeth, herself a lover of Greek and Latin 
literature, the classics regained their supremacy, and 
the grammar schools, recently established, spread the 
love of learning among the people. 

A spirit of inquiry in regard to natural phenomena 
was abroad in Elizabeth's time. The Copernican sys- 
tem was revolutionizing men's ideas in regard to the 
relations of the heavenly bodies, and, before many 
years, Francis Bacon was to give to the study of natural 
science an impulse such as it had never before received 
in England. 

In the province of religion old barriers were swept 
aside and new forces were given full play. When 
Henry VIII threw off his allegiance to Rome and 
declared himself head of the English church, the 
national consciousness was no doubt quickened ; but 
the event that did most during his reign toward devel- 
oping the moral and religious sentiment of the nation 
was the translation of the Bible into English. In a few 
years the Bible, known already through the teachings of 
the clergy, became the one book of the mass of the 
people ; the images of the Hebrew writers were in 
every mind, their phrases on every tongue. More than 
Homer to the Greek was the Bible to the Englishman; 



INTRODUCTION. vii 

for from it he gained that moral strength, that realiza- 
tion of his individual worth as the child of God, which 
made him battle with a stout heart against the dreaded 
power of Catholic Spain, and which, later, enabled him 
to resist successfully the tyranny of his own rulers. 
The translation of the Bible exercised an influence 
upon the development of English literature ; and the 
influence was in part owing to the time at which 
the translation was made ; that is, it was made just 
when the language was ripe for it. Not until the i6th 
century were the various elements that go to make up 
the English tongue thoroughly assimilated. While 
to-day the language of Chaucer needs to be studied, 
the speech of the i6th century, freed from its peculiar- 
ities in spelling, may easily be read by a person of ordi- 
nary intelligence ; in fact, it is practically modern 
English. By the wide and rapid diffusion of the Bible, 
the people as a whole, even those speaking peculiar 
dialects, became familiar with a body of writings 
expressed in the literary medium of the period. Con- 
sequently the 16th-century writers when employing 
the current tongue could appeal to persons of vari- 
ous social conditions. This is one reason why the 
literature of the Elizabethan Age is the literature, not 
of a class, but of a nation. 

While the influences just mentioned quickened the 
moral perceptions and refined the literary instincts of the 
people, the discovery of the New World awoke in them 
a sudden consciousness of their own force, and led them 
to realize in a slight degree the part they were destined 
to play on the great stage of the world. Up to the 



viii INTRODUCTIOAL 

beginning of the i6th century Englishmen had been 
obhged to acknowledge that their small island had little 
weight in the affairs of Europe. She had heretofore 
looked to Rome for spiritual guidance and to Italy and 
France for inspiration and teaching in literary matters. 
Now at last she was to take her true place in the onward 
march of the nations. The discovery of America and 
the subsequent explorations of daring navigators sailing 
under English colors had given to England even more 
truly than to Castile and Leon a " New World." The 
spirit of the Vikings that had slumbered for centuries 
in their descendants awoke, and England felt her real 
power — the power of the conqueror and the colonizer; 
the power which was to make that " little body with a 
mighty heart" the greatest civilizing force of modern 
times. 

As we consider these facts we begin to see why the 
man of the Elizabethan Age differed in many respects 
both from his predecessors and from his descendants. 
We can now account for his unruly passions, his lively 
imagination, his religious intolerance, and his love of 
adventure. We do not wonder that the finer spirits 
of the time were inspired by lofty and generous ideals. 
Fortunate, indeed, was the genius whose lot was cast 
in this remarkable century; if not heir of all the ages 
that have stored up their wealth for the 19th-century 
man, he was the possessor of a rich inheritance. If 
the genius were a Spenser, he looked beyond the 
material universe, out upon vast realms of the imagina- 
tion peopled with those airy nothings to which the 
poet alone can give a local habitation and a name. 



INTR on UC TIOiV. ix 

And yet, the poet is, after all, born into the hard, 

actual world, — 

. . . the world 

Of all of us, — the place where in the end, 

We find our happiness, or not at all ; 

and he, like the commonest mortal, must grapple with 
facts, and gain strength and insight through experience. 
Edmund Spenser was born in London near the 
Tower, sometime between 1549 and 1554. 1552 is the 
date usually fixed upon, and this makes him six years 
old when Elizabeth came to the throne. He was evi- 
dently of good family, though his parents must have 
been in moderate circumstances. He was a pupil in 
the grammar school established by the Merchant Tay- 
lors' Company, and when sixteen or seventeen left 
school for the university of Cambridge. In 1573 he 
became B.A., and in 1576 left the university with the 
degree of M.A. His friendship with Gabriel Harvey, 
a fellow-student, had an important influence upon his 
future life, since Harvey introduced him to Sir Philip 
Sidney, who made him known to his uncle, the Earl of 
Leicester. After a short stay in the north of England, 
where he is supposed to have wooed unsuccessfully a 
certain fair Rosalind, the poet settled in London. In 
I 579 his first printed book, the " Shepherd's Calendar," 
was published. This production was dedicated to Sid- 
ney. In 1580 Spenser went to Ireland as secretary to 
Arthur, Lord Grey de Wilton. Since he was staying 
at Lord Leicester's house just before this event, it is 
probable that he obtained the position through Leices- 
ter's influence. After Lord Grey was recalled, in 1582, 



X INTR on UC TION. 

Spenser remained in Ireland as a state official. In 
1586 a large estate at Kilcolman, not far from Cork, 
was granted him by the queen ; and it was in his new 
home that he composed the first three books of the 
Faery Qiiecne. Sir Walter Raleigh, whose friendship 
he had gained during his former visit to Ireland, thought 
so highly of the work that he persuaded Spenser to 
accompany him to England that he might present him 
to the queen. Pllizabeth received the poet with marked 
favor, and granted him a pension of fifty pounds a 
year. The three books were published in 1590 with 
an explanatory letter addressed to Raleigh. In 1591 
a collection of Spenser's shorter poems appeared. In 
1594 the poet married a lady named Elizabeth, and in 
honor of the occasion wrote his celebrated Epithalamion. 
A second edition of the first three books of the Faery 
Qiicene was printed in 1596, together with the next 
three books. Spenser was in London at this time. 
After his return to Ireland, in 1598, the Tyrone 
Rebellion broke out, the castle of Kilcolman was sacked 
and burnt, and the poet and his family barely escaped 
with their lives. Some authorities declare that one of 
the children perished in the flames. Spenser managed 
to reach England, but died three months later, in Janu- 
ary, 1599. His body lies beside that of Chaucer in 
Westminster Abbey. 

In the Prothalarnion, written when he was a little 
over forty, the poet speaks of his birthplace as 

. . . merry London, my most kindly nurse, 
That to me gave this life's first native source ; 

and in the same poem he alludes to 



INTRODUCriOX. xi 

. . . the shore of silver-streaming Thames ; 
Whose rutty bank, the which his river hems, 

Was painted all with variable flowers, 
And all the meads adorned with dainty gems 

Fit to deck maidens' bowers. 

It is interesting to picture Spenser as a boy in Lon- 
don — that strange London of the i6th century, with 
its filth and its splendor, its Puritanism and its license, 
its hatred of popery and its stanch loyalty to the 
queen, — above all, with its daring hopes and its world- 
wide interests. We see the schoolboy playing on the 
" rutty " banks of the river, or dodging as he runs from 
school to avoid the frequent holes and the heaps of 
filth that make the streets anything but ways of pleas- 
antness. Now he gazes at the stuffed monkeys and par- 
rots, the tomahawks and the Indian ornaments exposed 
to view in some shop. A live red man even may meet 
his gaze, for Indians were occasionally brought to Lon- 
don in those days. We see him listening breathless as 
some returned mariner tells the knot of boys gathered 
about him of Eldorados more wonderful than Mexico 
and Peru, of lands where the rivers run gold and the 
rocks are full of diamonds. At another time we see 
the future poet of fairy-land cheering on a street fight 
or following with the crowd that escorts an unfortunate 
victim to the stocks or to the gallows. Perhaps the 
boy's attention is arrested by a passing courtier, the 
willing cynosure of admiring eyes, fantastically arrayed 
as a Spanish grandee or as a French beau of the period. 
The plays given in the court-yards of the inns are sure 
to have aroused Spenser's enthusiasm ; and tucked in 



Xll 



INTRODUCTION. 



among his burly elders he doubtless watched with keen 
delight the crude performances of the early Elizabethan 
stage. After the play would come the walk home in 
the quick coming darkness of the winter afternoon, the 
flaring light of the linkboy's torch making well-known 
objects strangely unfamiliar. But, above all, the shows! 
— processions, pageants, masks, mummeries, morality 
plays ; every kind of spectacle that could delight the 
eyes of man might be seen in or near the London of 
Spenser's day. The queen never moved but in a show. 
The most trifling occasion was celebrated by allegorical 
representations. The vices and virtues became as 
familiar to the sight as they are in all ages to the inner 
consciousness of the people. The Mask of Ciipid that 
Britomart witnesses in Busirane's castle is only a court 
mask of Spenser's time that has found its way into 
fairy-land. 

If the imagination of the future poet was fed by the 
sights and sounds of the city, it must have been nour- 
ished by books as well. Stories from every land and 
every age found their way to the printing-presses of 
London: Italian poems, French romances, Spanish tales, 
and classical mythologies. Spenser read of the gods 
of Greece ; and in the early red of the morning he saw 
Aurora coming to rejoice the slumbering world. He 
pored over Geoffrey of Monmouth and the Morte 
d' ArtJinr till in the clouds of sunset he could dis- 
tinguish the shining spears and the crimson banners 
of the knights of the Round Table. With these 
romantic tales were mingled Scripture narratives ; and 
back of all, — a dark, deep undercurrent, — whispers 



INTR OD UC TIOiV. xiii 

of popish plots and stories of Spanish cruelty. It is 
no wonder that the Faery Queene is at the first glance 
a strange medley ; that Christian knights and fair ladies 
as they wander in Spenser's fairy-land meet with sor- 
cerers and dragons, with Saracens and Amazons; while 
the vices and virtues personified live on terms of inti- 
macy with the thinly disguised characters of the poet's 
own time. 

Little is known of Spenser's life at Cambridge. It 
is known, however, that the university was at that time 
represented to the authorities in London as being in a 
state of dangerous excitement. Religious controversies 
were rife, and the more subtle doctrines of the various 
Puritanical sects were eagerly discussed. Gabriel Har- 
vey, Spenser's college friend, in a letter written to the 
poet a short time after the latter had left Cambridge, 
says : " Every day spawns new opinions : heresy in 
divinity, in philosophy, in humanity, in manners, 
grounded upon hearsay ; doctors contemn'd ; the devil 
not so hated as t\\Q pope ; many invectives but no amend- 
ment." However, in spite of the prevailing interest in 
religious controversies, the poet must have found at the 
university much that would tend to develop the intel- 
lectual side of his nature ; and if he was, as some main- 
tain, the most learned of the English poets after Milton 
(Gray should come first, probably), he owed much of his 
knowledge to the opportunities enjoyed at Cambridge. 
Certainly he possessed more than a cursory knowledge 
of Plato and Aristotle, and his acquaintance with the 
literatures of Greece, Rome, and Italy was wide if not 
accurate. In the poets and chroniclers of his own tongue 



XIV 



INTRODUCTION. 



he was deeply read, and Chaucer was his master, beloved 
and imitated. In addition to his intellectual gains, 
Spenser, while at the university, made friends whose 
sympathy and interest were a constant encouragement 
and stimulus. 

A few years after leaving Cambridge the poet counted 
among his friends not only Edward Kirk and Gabriel 
Harvey, university men, but also Sir Philip Sidney, Sir 
Walter Raleigh, and Lord Grey; while Lord Leicester 
and Queen Elizabeth herself were among his patrons. 
It is important to consider his relations with the aris- 
tocracy, since these relations must have broadened his 
outlook and have added to his knowledge of men and 
of affairs; while the atmosphere of the court which sur- 
rounded him for short intervals several times during the 
course of his life doubtless quickened his perceptions 
and refined his tastes. In Sidney, Raleigh, and Grey 
he saw living examples of the knightly heroes whose 
valor and generosity had filled his boyish soul with 
admiration ; and in the brilliant spectacles at court and 
at Lord Leicester's house he witnessed scenes that 
needed only the transmuting touch of genius to become 
worthy of fairy-land itself. The rapid development of 
his powers was doubtless due in part to his association 
with these cultivated men of the court and to the knowl- 
edge that their warm appreciation was sure to greet his 
best efforts. But if Spenser saw and profited by the 
better side of court life, he was not blind to the baser 
elements that went to make up that brilliant society. 
The following lines are from his poem, Colm Clout's 
Come Home Again : 



INTR OD UC TION. XV 

For, sooth to say, it is no sort of life, 

For shepherd fit to lead in that same place, 

Where each one seeks with malice, and with strife, 
To thrust down other into foul disgrace. 

Himself to raise : and he doth soonest rise 
That best can handle his deceitful wit 

In subtle shifts, and finest sleights devise. 

In his satire, Prosopopoia, or Mother Hubbard's Tale, 
Spenser makes us aware that his experience at court 
was not altogether a happy one : 

Most miserable man, whom wicked fate 
Hath brought to Court, to sue for had ywist,^ 

That few have found, and many one hath missed ! 

Full little knowest thou, that hast not tried. 

What hell it is in suing long to bide : 

To lose good days, that might be better spent ; 

To waste long nights in pensive discontent ; 

To speed to-day, to be put back to-morrow ; 

To feed on hope, to pine with fear and sorrow ; 

To have thy Princes' grace, yet want her Peers'; 

To have thy asking, yet wait many years ; 

To fret thy soul with crosses and with cares ; 

To eat thy heart through comfortless despairs ; 

To fawn, to crouch, to wait, to ride, to run. 

To spend, to give, to want, to be undone. 

Unhappy wight, born to disastrous end. 

That doth his life in so long tendance spend. 

The years spent in Ireland — except for short visits to 
London, the last eighteen years of his life — must have 
seemed to the poet a period of exile. Taking into con- 
sideration the difificulty of communication in his time, 
he was doubtless farther from London, for him the cen- 

1 Had ywist, had I known ; that is, vain regret. 



xvi iNTR on uc riON. 

tre of the social and intellectual world, than is to-day 
the Englishman living in New Zealand. Ireland in the 
1 6th century was peopled by barbarous, turbulent peo- 
ple — Catholics for the most part — who were, for suf- 
ficiently good reasons, bitterly opposed to English rule. 
Spenser speaks of the " good Lord Grey," whom he 
portrays in the Faery Qiieene as Artegall, the knight of 
Justice, as " most gentle, affable, loving, and temper- 
ate ; always known to be a most just, sincere, godly, 
and right noble man, far from sternness, far from 
unrighteousness"; and yet, he admits that the Lord- 
Deputy left a terrible name behind him in Ireland. 
Church ^ says of Spenser's patron : " He was certainly 
a man of severe and unshrinking sense of duty, and 
like many great Englishmen of the time, so resolute in 
carrying it out to the end, that it reached, when he 
thought it necessary, to the point of ferocity." Were 
Spenser merely the gentle dreamer that some critics 
conceive him to be, he would, while with Lord Grey, 
have shut his eyes so far as he could to the barbarous 
scenes of English rule (or misrule), and have taken 
refuge in the more attractive world of the imagination. 
Instead of this, we find him some years later writing 
his " View of the Present State of Ireland," in which 
he proposes a plan for the reformation of the rebellious 
island. Like our greatest English writers, — Shakes- 
peare, Milton, and Chaucer, — Spenser was, notwith- 
standing his poetic genius, a practical, clear-headed Eng- 
lishman, with enough of hardness to enable him to hold 
his own among the ruling spirits of a turbulent age. 

1 Spenser, by R. W. Church, in the English Men of Letters Series. 



INTRODUCTION. xvii 

Kilcolman, Spenser's home, was near the hill of 
Aharlo, a great fastness in the Desmond Rebellion, 
and to the north stretched a wild country, half forest, 
half bog. Here, except for short visits to London, the 
poet lived in retirement. He did, it is true, make occa- 
sional trips to Dublin, where he had a small circle of 
English friends who sympathized to a certain degree 
with his literary tastes. Painful as this banishment 
may have been for the man Spenser, the poet could 
hardly have found a place better calculated to develop 
his peculiar genius. A painter of contemporary man- 
ners like Pope would have suffered intellectual starva- 
tion amid these hills and bogs ; but the man who was 
to create the fairy-land of Gloriana and then lose him- 
self in its interminable mazes needed to be where out- 
ward things would not distract his mind. Bunyan wrote 
his allegory in Bedford jail; Milton saw the wonders of 
heaven and hell after his eyes were closed to the actual 
world; and Spenser, forgetting the loneliness of his 
position, could transform the scenes of violence and dis- 
order, whose echoes reached him, into glorious knightly 
achievements, and could people the wild solitudes of 
Kilcolman with the varied creations of his fertile imag- 
ination. Speaking of the Faeiy Qtieene, Church says : 
" The realities of the Irish wars and of Irish social and 
political life gave a real subject, gave body and form to 
the allegory. . . . There in visible fact were the vices 
and falsehoods which Arthur and his companions were 
to quell and punish. . . . The allegory bodies forth the 
life of man in all conditions and at all times. But 
Spenser could never have seen in England such a strong 



xviii INTRODUCTION. 

and perfect image of the allegory itself — with the wild 
wanderings of its personages, its daily chances of battle 
and danger, its hairbreadth escapes, its strange encoun- 
ters, its prevailing anarchy and violence, its normal 
absence of law and order — as he had continually and 
customarily before him in Ireland." 

While we learn from the biographies of Spenser a 
good deal about the circumstances of the poet's life, we 
find in them little regarding his personal character. 
We know that he had the artist's feeling for beauty 
and that he was a seeker after the ideal. We know, 
too, that he loved his country and admired his queen, — 
for we cannot consider his extravagant expressions in 
regard to Elizabeth as mere adulation, — and that he 
felt the most cordial hatred for the pope, the Spaniard, 
and all whom he looked upon as England's enemies. 
From the Epithalamion we infer that he was able to 
invest those dearest to him with something of that ideal 
beauty which was always seeking expression in his 
writings. Perhaps, however, the most admirable trait 
that has been preserved for us is his chivalric constancy 
in friendship. Living as he did in an age of patronage, 
an age in which the struggling genius must look to 
those high in rank for the means that should enable 
him to prosecute his work, Spenser might easily, in the 
struggle for existence, have forgotten to be grateful. 
Eager for his own advancement, he might have sought 
always the favor of those whose smiles would insure 
success. This was not the case with the poet. Although 
his friend and patron, Lord Grey de Wilton, was recalled 
from Ireland to England and censured by the home gov- 



INTRODUCTION. xix 



ernment for his unsuccessful though strenuous efforts 
at ruHng the turbulent island that had been placed 
under his control, Spenser, in his Vieiv of the Present 
State of Ireland, heartily commended the administration 
of the Lord-Deputy. Besides, he introduced him into 
the Faery Qiieene as Artegall, the knight of Justice. 
Earlier in his career, when writing the Shepherd's Cal- 
endar, the poet chose as the pattern of a true Christian 
pastor his former patron, Archbishop Grindal, — whom 
he denominated Algrind, — although at that very time 
the bishop was suffering under the displeasure of the 
court. One familiar with the jealousies and intrigues 
of Elizabeth's court will realize that the course pursued 
by Spenser in the instances referred to gives evidence 
not only of constancy in friendship but of high moral 
courage as well. 

Besides the Faery Queene, Spenser wrote : the Shep- 
herd's Calejtdar, a collection of pastoral poems, one for 
each month in the year; Prosopopoia, or Mother Hub- 
bai'd's Tale, a satirical fable; Coli7i Clout's Come Home 
Again, a fanciful account of the poet's trip to England 
with Raleigh and of his presentation to the queen ; 
AstropJiel, a Pastoral Elegy npon the Death of the most 
Noble and Valorous KnigJit, Sir Philip Sidney ; Pro- 
thalamion, or a Spoiisal Verse ; EpitJialamion, a poem 
celebrating the poet's own marriage ; four Hymns in 
honor of Love, Beanty, Heavenly Love, and Heavenly 
Beauty ; and numerous other poems, among them a 
large number of sonnets. In addition to these poetical 
works, he left behind him the prose treatise, Vieiv of 
the Present State of Ireland ^ and several letters. 



XX INTR OD UC TION. 

The poet who can write interesting narratives, keen 
satires, fanciful allegories, and lyrics of marvellous 
beauty is certainly not a one-sided genius. At the 
same time Spenser has, with the exception of Britomart, 
created no living character; and on occasions Britomart, 
even, becomes shadowy, unsubstantial. The author of 
the Faery Qtieene lacks dramatic power and is wanting 
also in the constructive ability that goes to the making 
of great epics. He is, too, devoid of passion, unless an 
absorbing love for the good and the beautiful may be 
counted as passion. Not once in all his poems does he, 
like Shakespeare, touch those chords that awaken an echo 
in the deepest recesses of the human heart ; nor does 
he, like Wordsworth, find a new and hidden beauty in 
the " meanest flower that blows." And yet Milton calls 
him "a better teacher than Scotus or Aquinas," and 
Wordsworth in his Prelude says : 

And that gentle Bard, 
Chosen by the muses for their page of State, 
Sweet Spenser, moving through his clouded heaven 
With the moon's beauty and the moon's soft pace, 
I called him Brother, Englishman, and Friend. 

Brother and friend he has in truth been to his fellow- 
craftsmen from his own time to ours, — and master 
as well. His title, "the poets' poet," is no empty 
phrase. When he began to write England had for a 
hundred and fifty years been without a great poet. 
Chaucer with his archaic forms could no longer serve 
as teacher and inspirer, and the verse-makers, lacking 
an English model, looked to Italy for instruction in 



INTRODUCTION. xxi 

their art. Spenser revealed to his contemporaries the 
capacities of the English tongue. A master of poetic 
form, and sensitive to the subtlest harmonies of lan- 
guage, he taught the writers of the i6th century how 
to use the resources at their command ; and echoes of 
his melodious phrases may be detected in some of the 
latest productions of English literature. (The Spenserian 
stanza — the stanza of the Faery Queene — still remains 
one of the chief forms of English verserx However, it 
is not simply because of his artistic qualities that 
Spenser has exercised an important influence upon 
the development of English poetry. His characteristic 
charm lies in the fact that better than any other poet 
of his nation he knows how to communicate to his 
readers the joy that comes from the contemplation of 
ideal beauty. His poetry, it is true, does not cause 
that ecstatic thrill which is akin to pain; rather it gives 
a calm and serene happiness, the result of long com- 
panionship with what is pure and high. "The noblest 
mind the best contentment has," Spenser tells us. In 
the Faery Qiieene life is represented as a conflict in 
which the good are often hard pressed. Still, we are 
not troubled; for the eternal forces are at work and the 
victory is sure. As we read, the sense of earthly limi- 
tations passes away, and we find ourselves in a new 
world where we gladly linger, charmed and detained by 
the long swell of the Spenserian stanza. Lowell has 
called this world, "the land of pure heart's ease, where 
no ache or sorrow of spirit can enter." 

Spenser is, as we have seen, peculiarly the represent- 
ative of his own age in its higher aspects. As in the 



xxii INTR on UC TION. 

more realistic of the Elizabethan dramatists we see 
pictured the actual life of the time, so in Spenser we 
find the beliefs, the dreams, the ideals of his contempo- 
raries. The cultivated men of his day read Plato and 
Aristotle, and enjoyed Homer, Virgil, Boccaccio, and 
Ariosto ; and we find reproduced in Spenser's poems 
the thoughts and images of these writers. Their own 
past had likewise its charm for the men of Elizabeth's 
court ; and Spenser, an avowed disciple of Chaucer, 
steeped himself in old chronicles and romances, and 
found an irresistible attraction in the forms of a rapidly 
decaying feudalism. Spenser is the poet of the Renais- 
sance with its love of learning, its feeling for the artistic 
in form and color, its new delight in life, its faith in 
the possibilities of human achievement. At the same 
time he never forgets that life is a struggle ; and under- 
neath his most glowing pictures may be found the noble 
aims and the high ideals of the Puritan. As we read 
his poetry, the past, touched with a glory not its own, 
lives once more in our imagination ; and we gain the 
culture that comes through sympathy with interests 
remote from those of to-day. Our ears, trained by a 
skilled musician, learn to trace with delight the hitherto 
unsuspected harmonies of the great masters of verse. 
But more than this is won if the poet accomplishes his 
purpose ; for in his letter to Raleigh he says, speaking 
of the Faery Qiieene : " The generall end, therefore, of 
all the booke is to fashion a gentleman or noble person 
in vertuous and gentle discipline"; and surely we must 
gain in virtue and in magnanimity if we associate with 
the generous and noble spirit of Spenser. 



INTRODUCTION. xxiii 

In his letter to Sir Walter Raleigh (which follows 
this chapter), Spenser tells the purpose and the plan of 
the Faery Qiiecne. The plan, however, was never car- 
ried out ; for but six of the twelve books proposed, and 
fragments of a seventh, were given to the world. Of 
these books, the first "containing the Legend of the 
Knight of the Red Cross, or of Holiness," is the most 
perfect in form, and as a narrative the most complete. 
The interest, however, depends largely upon the alle- 
gory underlying the poem. The second book, which 
contains "The Legend of Sir Guyon, or of Temperance," 
though less artistic than the first, has passages of sur- 
passing beauty and possesses some interest as a narra- 
tive. In both these books, however, the characters are 
abstractions. The third book, " containing the Legend 
of Britomartis, or of Chastity," introduces a clearly 
defined character; for Britomart, while she represents 
an abstract quality, is herself a woman with the graces 
and the failings of her sex. Indeed, as he sees her 
searching for her unknown lover, accompanied by the 
gentle Amoret, the reader cannot fail to be reminded of 
Shakespeare's Rosalind and her faithful cousin, Celia. 
The story of Britomart's adventures is continued 
through the fourth book, containing the " Legend of 
Cambel and Triamond, or of Friendship," and the fifth 
which contains the "Legend of Artegall, or of Justice." 
In reading the three books, however, it is difficult to 
keep Britomart in view, so numerous are the characters 
introduced and so confusing the account of their adven- 
tures. Of course the careful student of Spenser will 
read the entire Faery Qtieene, will trace the underlying 



xxiv INTRODUCTION. 

allegories, will seek the sources from which the poet 
derived many of his ideas and images, and will look up 
allusions to the events and the personages of the time. 
The general student of English literature, however, 
may find in the narrative here presented a production 
especially calculated to arouse his interest and to stim- 
ulate him to the further study of the poet. The poem 
has a peculiar value in connection with the study of the 
institutions of Chivalry; and on this account it may be 
classed with Chaucer's KnigJites Tale, with Scott's 
romantic poems, and with Tennyson's Idylls of the 
King. 

The stanza employed in the Faery Qiieene should be 
carefully examined. While it is said to be a modifica- 
tion of the Italian "ottava rima," it differs sufficiently 
from the Italian stanza to be considered Spenser's own 
creation. It will be noticed that the first eight lines 
consist each of five, and the ninth line of six iambic 
feet ; and it will be observed that irregularities in metre 
are occasionally introduced for the sake of emphasis, or 
to break the monotony of the rythm. Mr. Corson in 
his Primer of English Verse has an excellent article on 
the Spenserian stanza. 

Some attention should be paid to Spenser's peculiar 
use of language. He was for some reason attracted by 
the older rather than the newer forms of his day. 
Such old forms as ydrad for dreaded, yclad for clad, and 
yold for yielded occur frequently; he uses ne with not 
— the double negative ; while old words not to be found 
in Shakespeare and other writers only a few years 
younger than himself, are at times employed by him. 



INTR on UC TIOiV. XXV 

It is said that his vocabulary, notwithstanding his occa- 
sional use of foreign idioms, is more Germanic than 
that of any other great English poet. It must be con- 
fessed that he sometimes uses language arbitrarily, 
twisting the meaning of a word, or altering the form 
or the accent to suit his artistic purposes. For this 
reason the philologist looks a little askance at his 
productions. 

The student will do well to consult Mr. Frederic I. 
Carpenter's Outline Guide to the Study of Spensei% 
where he will find lists of books that may be used with 
advantage. The following works will be found useful : 
complete works of Spenser edited by Grosart ; the 
Globe edition of Spenser edited by Morris, with a 
memoir by Hales; Professor Child's edition of Spenser's 
poems ; The Faerie Quecne edited by Kate M. Warren ; 
Books I and II of the Faery Queene edited by Kitchin ; 
Book I of the Faery Queene edited by Percival ; Selec- 
tions from Spenser by Professor Gummere, in the 
Athenaeum Press series (announced); Spenserhy R. W. 
Church, in the English Men of Letters series ; Green's 
History of the English People ; Taine's History of 
English Literature ; Brooke's Primer of English Liter- 
ature; Corson's Primer of English Verse ; Dowden's 
Transcripts and Studies ; Craik's Spenser a7id His 
Poetry ; Lowell's Among My Books, 2d series (Vol. IV 
of the Riverside edition of his writings); and Sawtelle's 
Sources of Spenser s Classical Mythology. 



xxvi INTR on UC TION. 



A LETTER of the Authors expounding his whole inten- 
tion in the course of this worke ^ ; which, for that it 
giveth great light to the reader, for the better under- 



standing is hereunto annexed. 



To THE Right Noble and Valorous 

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, KNIGHT, 

Lo : Wardein of the Sta?ineries,'^ and her majesties lieuienaunt 

of the countie of Cornewayll. 
Sir, 

Knowing how doubtfully all Allegories may be construed, 
and this booke of mine, which I have entituled The Faery 
Queefie, being a continued AUegorie, or darke conceit,^ I 
have thought good, as well for avoyding of jealous* opinions 
and misconstructions, as also for your better light in read- 
ing thereof, (being so, by you commanded) to discover unto 
you the generall intention and meaning, which in the whole 
course thereof I have fashioned, without expressing of any 
particular purposes, or by-accidents therein occasioned. 
The generall end therefore of all the booke, is to fashion a 
gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline. 
Which for that I conceived shoulde be most plausible and 
pleasing, beeing coloured with an historicall fiction, the 

1 This worke. The letter served as an introduction to the first three 
books of the Faery Qi/eene. 

- Stanneries, stannaries, tin mines or tin works. 

^ Darke conceit, mysterious or obscure conception or design. 

4 Jealous, suspicious. 



INTRODUCTION. xxvii 

which the most part of men delight to read, rather for vari- 
etie of matter than for profit of the ensample : I chose the 
historic of king Arthure, as most fit for the excellencie of 
his person, beeing made famous by many mens former 
workes, and also furthest from the danger of envie,^ and 
suspicion of present time. In which I have followed all the 
antique poets historicall: first Homer, who in the persons of 
Agamemnon and Ulysses hath ensampled^ a good governour 
and a vertuous man, the one in his Ilias, the other in his 
Odysseis : then Virgil, whose like intention was to doe in 
the person of ^neas: after him Ariosto comprised them both 
in his Orlando : and lately Tasso dissevered them againe, 
and formed both parts in two persons, namely, that part 
which they in philosophy call Et/iice, or vertues of a private 
man, coloured in his Rinaldo : the other named Politice^ in 
his Godfredo. By ensample of which excellent Poets, I 
laboure to pourtraict in Arthure, before he was king, the 
image of a brave knight, perfected in the twelve private 
morall vertues, as Aristotle hath devised : which if I find to 
be well accepted, I may be perhaps encoraged to frame 
the other part of pollitike vertues in his person, after he 
came to bee king. 

To some I know this Methode will seem displeasant, 
which had rather have good discipline delivered plainly in 
way of precepts, or sermoned at large, as they use, then^ 
thus clowdily enwrapped in Allegoricall devises. But such, 
mee seeme, should be satisfied with the use of these dayes, 
seeing all things accounted by their showes, and nothing 
esteemed of, that is not delightfuU and pleasing to common 
sense. For this cause is Xenophon preferred before Plato, 
for that the one, in the exquisite depth of his judgement, 

1 Envie, ill will, hatred. 

2 Ensampled, given an example of. 
8 Then, than. 



xxviii INTRODUCTION. 

formed a Commune-wealth, such as it should be ; but the 
other, in the person of Cyrus and the Persians, fashioned a 
government, such as might best be: So much more profitable 
and gracious is doctrine by ensample then by rule. So have 
I laboured to do in the person of Arthure : whom I conceive, 
after his long education by Timon (to whom he was by Mer- 
lin delivered to be brought up, so soone as he was borne of 
the Lady Igrayne) to have seen in a dreame or vision the 
Faerie Queene, with whose excellent beautie ravished, hee 
awaking, resolved to seek her out : and so, being by Merlin 
armed, and by Timon throughly instructed, he went to seeke 
her forth in Faery land. In that Faery Queene I mean 
Glory in my generall intention : but in my particular I con- 
ceive the most excellent and glorious person of our sover- 
aine the Queene, and her kingdome in Faery land. And 
yet, in some places else, I doe otherwise shadow ^ her. For 
considering shee beareth two persons, the one of a most 
royall Queene or Empresse, the other of a most vertuous 
and beautifull lady, this latter part in some places I doe 
expresse in Belphoebe, fashioning her name according to 
your owne excellent conceipt of Cynthia,^ (Phoebe and Cyn- 
thia being both names of Diana.) So in the person of Prince 
Arthure I sette forth magnificence in particular, which ver- 
tue, for that (according to Aristotle and the rest) it is the 
perfection of all the rest, and containeth in it them all, there- 
fore in the whole course I mention the deeds of Arthure 
appliable to the vertue, which I write of in that booke. But 
of the twelve other vertues I make XII other knights the 
patrons, for the more varietie of the historic : Of which 
these three bookes containe three. The first, of the Knight 
of the Red crosse, in whom I expresse Holinesse : the sec- 
ond of Sir Guyon, in whome I set foorth Temperance : the 

^ Shadow, represent typically. 

2 Cynthia, an allusion to Sir Walter Raleigh's poem " Cynthia." 



INTRODUCTION. xxix 

third of Britomartis, a Lady knight, in whom I picture Chas- 
titie. But because the beginning of the whole worke seem- 
eth abrupt and as depending upon other antecedents, it needs 
that yee know the occasion of these three knights severall 
adventures. For the Methode of a Poet historical! is not 
such as of an Historiographer. For an Historiographer dis- 
courseth of affaires orderly as they were done, accounting as 
well the times as the actions ; but a Poet thrusteth into the 
middest, even where it most concerneth him, and there 
recoursing to the things forepast, and divining of things to 
come, maketh a pleasing analysis of all. The beginning 
therefore of my historic, if it were to be told by an Histori- 
ographer, should be the twelfth booke, which is the last ; 
where I devise that the Faery Queene kept her annuall feast 
twelve dales ; uppon which twelve severall dayes, the occa- 
sions of the twelve severall adventures hapned, which being 
undertaken by XH severall knights, are in these twelve 
books severally handled and discoursed. 

The first was this. In the beginning of the feast, there 
presented him selfe a tall clownish younge man, who falling 
before the Queene of Faeries desired a boone (as the man- 
ner then was) which during that feast she might not refuse : 
which was that hee might have the atchievement of any 
adventure, which during that feast should happen ; that 
being granted, he rested him selfe on the floore, unfit through 
his rusticitie for a better place. Soone after entred a faire 
Ladie in mourning weedes,^ riding on a white Asse, with a 
dwarfe behind her leading a warlike steed, that bore the 
Armes of a knight, and his speare in the dwarf es hand. 
She falling before the Queene of Faeries, complayned that 
her father and mother, an ancient King and Queene, had 
bene by an huge dragon many yeers shut up in a brazen 
Castle, who thence suffered them not to issew : and therefore 

1 Weedes, srarments. 



XXX 



INTRODUCTION. 



besought the Faery Queene to assigne her some one of her 
knights to take on him that exployt. Presently ^ that clown- 
ish person upstarting, desired that adventure ; whereat the 
Queene much wondering, and the Lady much gaine-saying, 
yet he earnestly importuned his desire. In the end the 
Lady told him, that unlesse that armour which she brought 
would serve him (that is, the armour of a Christian man 
specified by Saint Paul, V. Ephes.) that he could not suc- 
ceed in that enterprise : which being forth with put upon him 
with due furnitures thereunto, he seemed the goodliest man 
in al that company, and was well liked of the Lady. And 
eftesoones^ taking on him knighthood, and mounting on that 
straunge Courser, he went forth with her on that adventure : 
where beginneth the first booke, viz. 

A gentle knight was pricking on the playne, etc. 

The second day there came in a Palmer bearing an Infant 
with bloody hands, whose Parents he complained to have 
bene slaine by an enchauntresse called Acrasia : and there- 
fore craved of the Faery Queene, to appoint him some knight 
to performe that adventure, which being assigned to Sir 
Guyon, he presently went foorth with the same Palmer: 
which is the beginning of the second booke and the whole 
subject thereof. The third day there came in a Groome,^ 
who complained before the Faery Queene, that a vile 
Enchaunter, called Busirrme, had in hand a most faire Lady, 
called Amoretta, whom he kept in most grevious torment. 
Whereupon Sir Scudamour, the lover of that Lady, presently 
tooke on him that adventure. But beeing unable to per- 
forme it by reason of the hard Enchauntments, after long 

1 Presently, immediately. 

2 Eftesoones, immediately. 

3 Groome, servant. 



INTRODUCTION. xxxi 

sorrow, in the end met with Britomartis, who succoured him, 
and reskewed his love. 

But by occasion hereof, many other adventures are inter- 
medled ; but rather as accidents then intendments. As the 
love of Britomart, the overthrow of Marinell, the miserie of 
Florimell, the vertuousness of Belphoebe ; and many the 
like. 

Thus much, Sir, I have briefly-over-run to direct your 
understanding to the wel-head of the History, that from 
thence gathering the whole intention of the conceit, ye may 
as in a handfull gripe all the discourse, which otherwise may 
happely seem tedious and confused. So humbly craving the 
continuance of your honourable favour towards me, and th' 
eternall establishment of your happines, I humbly take 
leave. 

Yours most humbly affectionate, 

Edm. Spenser. 
23 Januarie, 1589. 



BRITOMART. 



1 It falls me^ here to write of chastity, 
That fairest virtue far above the rest : 

For which what needs me fetch from Faery ^ 
Foreign ensamples it to have expressed ? 
Sith^ it is shrined in my sovereign's breast, 
And formed so lively in each perfect part. 
That to all ladies, which have it professed, 
Need but behold the portrait of her heart ; 
If portrayed it might be by any living art : 

2 But living art may not least part express. 
Nor life-resembling pencil it can paint : 
All were it* Zeuxis^ or Praxiteles,^ 

His daedale^ hand would fail and greatly faint. 
And her perfections with his error taint : 

Note. — Britomart is the knight of chastity. The name denotes 
a martial Britoness, as Spenser uses it. It is really one of the names 
of Diana. 

^ Falls me, falls to me, falls to painter who lived during the latter 

my lot. half of the 5th century B.C. 

2 Faery, faeryland, fairyland. 6 Praxiteles, a famous Greek 

^ Sith, since. sculptor who flourished about 350 

* All were it, although it were. h.c. 
^ Zeuxis, a celebrated Greek "• Dcedale, skilful. 



2 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Ne^ poet's wit, that passeth painter far 

In picturing the parts of beauty daint,^ 

So hard a workmanship adventure darre, 

For fear through want of words her excellence to mar. 

3 How then shall I, apprentice of the skill 
That whilom^ in divinest wits did reign, 
Presume so high to stretch mine humble quill ? 
Yet now my luckless lot doth me constrain 
Hereto perforce: but, O dread sovereign. 
Thus far forth pardon, sith that choicest wit 
Cannot your glorious portrait figure plain, 
That I in colored shows may shadow it ; 

And antique praises unto present persons fit. 

4 But if in living colours, and right hue. 
Thyself thou covet to see pictured, 
Who can it do more lively, or more true, 
Than that sweet verse, with nectar sprinkeled 
In which a gracious servant* pictured 

His Cynthia, his heaven's fairest light 1 
That with his melting sweetness ravished, 
And with the wonder of her beames bright, 
My senses lullM are in slumber of delight. 

5 But let that same delicious poet lend 
A little leave unto a rustic muse 



1 Ne, nor. poem called " Cynthia," Queen 

2 Daiiit, dainty. Elizabeth, being unmarried, was 

3 Whilom, formerly. often called Cynthia, — another 
* A gracious servant, i.e. Sir name for the virgin goddess, 

Walter Raleigh who wrote a Diana. 



BRITOMART. 3 

To sing his mistress' praise ; and let him mend, 

If ought amiss her liking may abuse: 

Ne let his fairest Cynthia refuse 

In mirrors more than one herself to see ; 

But either Gloriana^ let her choose, 

Or in Belphoebe^ fashioned to be ; 

In th' one her rule, in th' other her rare chastity. 

1 Gloriana, the queen of Faery- ^ Belphoebe, a character in books 

land, beloved by Prince Arthur. Ill and IV of the " Faery Queene." 



I. 

Britomart encounters Prince Arthur and Sir Gtiyon. After sepa- 
rating from them, she passes on to Castle foyons where she falls in with 
the Redcross knight. 

1 The famous Briton prince ^ and faery knight, ^ 
After long ways and perilous pains endured, 
Having their weary limbs to perfect plight 
Restored, and sorry wounds right well recured, 
Of the fair Alma ^ greatly were procured ^ 

To make there lenger sojourn and abode ; 
But, when thereto they might not be allured 
From seeking praise and deeds of arms abrode, 
They courteous conge ^ took, and forth together 
yode.^ 

2 Long so they travelled through wasteful ways," 
Where dangers dwelt, and perils most did won,^ 
To hunt for glory and renowmed '^ praise : 

1 The famous Briton prince, have been enjopng her hospitality 

Prince Arthur, the perfect knight, after a perilous adventure, 
who is in love with Gloriana, the * Procured, entreated, 

queen of Faeryland. ^ Conge, leave. 

* Faery knight. All Gloriana's ^ Yode, went, 

champions are called faery knights. ~' Wasteful ways, waste places, 

The one here mentioned is Guyon, desolate places, 
the knight of Temperance. ^ Won, dwell. 

' Alma, the lady of the house ^ Renowmed. Spenser seems 

of Temperance. The two warriors to prefer the form renowm to the 

modem form. 



6 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Full many countries they did overrun, 

From the uprising to the setting sun, 

And many hard adventures did achieve ; 

Of all the which they honour ever won. 

Seeking the weak oppressed to relieve. 

And to recover right for such as wrong did grieve. 

3 At last, as through an open plain they yode, 
They spied a knight that towards pricked ^ fair ; 
And him beside an aged squire there rode, 

That seemed to couch ^ under his shield three- 
square,^ 
As if that age bade him that burden spare. 
And yield it those that stouter* could it wield : 
He, them espying, gan himself prepare. 
And on his arm address his goodly shield 
That bore a lion passant ^ in a golden field.^ 

4 Which seeing, good Sir Guyon dear besought 
The prince, of grace, to let him run that turn. 
He granted : then the Faery quickly raught " 
His poignant^ spear, and sharply gan to spurn ^ 
His foamy steed, whose fiery feet did burn 
The verdant grass as he thereon did tread ; 

Ne did the other back his foot return, 

1 Pricked, sparred onward. ^ pidd, term in heraldry for the 

2 Couch, bend. surface of a shield. Britomart 

3 Three- square, having three bore the legendary arms of Brute, 
equal sides. her ancestor. 

^ Stouter, more boldly. '^ Raught, reached. 

^ Passant, walking. ^ Poignant, sharp. 

9 Spurn, spur. 



BRITOMART. 7 

But fiercely forward came withouten dread, 

And bent his dreadful spear against the other's head. 

5 They been ymet, and both their points arrived ; 
But Guyon drove so furious and fell,^ 

That seemed both shield and plate it would have 

rived ^ ; 
Natheless ^ it bore his foe not from his sell,* 
But made him stagger, as he were not well : 
But Guyon self, ere well he was aware. 
Nigh a spear's length behind his crouper fell ; 
Yet in his fall so well himself he bare. 
That mischievous mischance his life and limbs did 

spare. 

6 Great shame and sorrow of that fall he took ; 
For never yet, sith warlike arms he bore 

And shivering spear in bloody field first shook, 
He found himself dishonoured so sore. 
Ah ! gentlest knight that ever armour bore. 
Let not thee grieve dismounted to have been, 
And brought to ground, that never wast before ; 
For not thy fault, but secret pow'r unseen ; 
That spear enchanted was which laid thee on the 
green ! 

7 But weenedst thou what wight ^ thee overthrew, 
Much greater grief and shamefuller regret 

For thy hard fortune then thou wouldst renew. 
That of a single^ damsel thou wert met 

1 Fell, fiercely. ^ Sell, saddle. 

2 Rived, torn apart. ^ Wight, person. 

3 Natheless, nevertheless. ® Single, weak. 



8 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

On equal plain, and there so hard beset : 

Even the famous Britomart it was, 

Whom strange adventure did from Britain f ett ^ 

To seek her lover, (love far sought, alas !) 

Whose image she had seen in Venus' looking-glass. 

8 Full of disdainful wrath, he fierce uprose 
For to revenge that foul reproachful shame, 
And, snatching his bright sword, began to close 
With her on foot, and stoutly forward came ; 
Die rather would he then ^ endure that same. 
Which when his palmer ^ saw, he gan to fear 
His toward* peril, and untoward^ blame. 
Which by that new rencounter he should rear^ ; 
For death sat on the point of that enchanted spear : 

9 And hasting towards him gan fair persuade 
Not to provoke misfortune, nor to ween^ 
His spear's default to mend with cruel blade ; 
For by his mighty science he had seen 

The secret virtue of that weapon keen. 
That mortal puissance mote^ not withstond : 
Nothing on earth mote always happy ^ been ! 
Great hazard were it, and adventure fond,^^ 
To lose long-gotten honour with one evil hond.^^ 

1 Fett^ fetch. ^ Untoward^ troublesome, vexa- 

2 Then, than ; this form occurs tious. 

frequently in the poem. 6 j^ear^ raise, bring upon him- 

^ Palmer, a wandering religious self, 

votary. Palms were sometimes '' Ween, think, 

carried by a palmer, as a sign that ^ Mote, might, 

he had been to the Holy Land. ^ Happy, successful. 

4 Toward, near at hand. i*^ Fond, foolish. 
11 Hotid, act. 



BRirOMART. 

10 By such good means he him discounselled ^ 
From prosecuting his revenging rage : 
And eke ^ the prince like treaty handeled,^ 
His wrathful will with reason to assuage ; 
And laid the blame, not to his carriage, 
But to his starting steed that swarved aside, 
And to the ill purveyance of his page. 
That had his furnitures ^ not firmly tied : 
So is his angry corage ^ fairly pacified. 

1 1 Thus reconcilement was between them knit. 
Through goodly temperance and affection chaste ; 
And either vowed with all their power and wit 
To let not other's honour be defaced 

Of friend or foe, whoever it embaste,^ 
Ne arms to bear against the other's side : 
In which accord ^ the prince was also placed, 
And with that golden chain of concord tied : 
So goodly all agreed, they forth yfere ^ did ride. 

12 O, goodly usage of those antique times. 

In which the sword was servant unto right ! 
When not for malice and contentious crimes. 
But all for praise, and proof of manly might, 
The martial brood accustomed to fight : 
Then honour was the meed of victory. 
And yet the vanquished had no despite^ : 

1 Discounselled, dissuaded. ^ Corage, heart. 

2 Eke, likewise. ^ Embaste, insulted. 

^ Like treaty kajtdeled, used the ' Accord, agreement, 

same argument. ^ Yfere, together. 

* Furnitures, equipment. ^ Despite, malice, hatred. 



10 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Let later age that noble use envy,^ 

Vile rancour to avoid and cruel surquedry ! ^ 

13 Long they thus travelled in friendly wise, 
Through countries waste, and eke well edified, ^ 
Seeking adventurers hard, to exercise 

Their puissance, whilom"* full dernly^ tried. 
f\t length they came into a forest wide. 
Whose hideous horror and sad trembling sound 
Full grisly^ seemed : therein they long did ride. 
Yet tract "* of living creature none they found. 
Save bears, lions, and bulls, which roamed them 
around. 

14 All suddenly out of the thickest brush. 
Upon a milk-white palfrey all alone, 

A goodly lady did foreby^ them rush. 
Whose face did seem as clear as crystal stone, 
And eke, through fear, as white as whales bone : 
Her garments all were wrought of beaten gold,. 
And all her steed with tinsel trappings shone, 
Which fled so fast that nothing mote him hold, 
And scarce them leisure gave her passing to behold. 

I 5 Still as she fled her eye she backward threw. 
As fearing evil that pursued her fast ; 
And her fair yellow locks behind her flew. 
Loosely dispersed with puff of every blast : 
All as a blazing star doth far outcast 

1 Envy, emulate. ^ Dernly, sadly, severely. 

2 Surquedry, insolence. ^ Grisly, terrible. 

3 Edified, built. "^ Tract, trace. 
* Whilom, formerly. ^ Foreby, by. 



BRITOMART. 11 

His hairy beams, and flaming locks dispread, 
At sight whereof the people stand aghast ; 
But the sage wizard tells, as he has read, 
That it importunes 1 death and doleful dreryhed.^ 

1 6 So as they gazed after her awhile, 

Lo ! where a grisly^ foster^ forth did rush, 

His tireling jade^ he fiercely forth did push 
Through thick and thin, both over bank and bush, 
In hope her to attain by hook or crook, 
That^ from his gory sides the blood did gush : 
Large were his limbs, and terrible his look, 
And in his clownish hand a sharp boar-spear he 
shook. 

1 7 Which outrage when those gentle^ knights did see, 
Full of great envy and fell jealousy,^ 

They stayed not to avise^ who first should be. 
But all spurred after, fast as they mote fly. 
To rescue her from shameful villainy. 
The prince and Guyon equally bylive^^ 
Herself pursued, in hope to win thereby 
Most goodly meed, the fairest dame alive : 
But after the foul foster Timias did strive. 

^ Importunes, portends. ^ Great etivy and fell jealousy. 

2 Dreryhed, sorrow. Prof. Child remarks that both 

3 Grisly, frightful, dreadful. envy and jealousy are here used 

4 Foster, forester. in the sense of indignation. Fell 

5 Tyreling jade, hackney .'' means fierce. 

® That, so that. * Avise, consider. 

■^ Gentle, high-born, noble. ^^ Bylive, quickly. 



12 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

1 8 The whiles fair Britomart, whose constant mind 
Would not so lightly follow beauty's chase, 

Ne recked of ladies' love, did stay behind ; 
And them awaited there a certain space. 
To weet^ if they would turn back to that place : 
But, when she saw them gone, she forward went. 
As lay her journey, through that perlous pace,^ 
With steadfast courage and stout hardiment^; 
Ne evil thing she feared, ne evil thing she meant. 

19 At last, as nigh out of the wood she came, 
A stately castle far away she spied. 

To which her steps directly she did frame. 

That castle was most goodly edified,^ 

And placed for pleasure nigh that forest side : 

But fair before the gate a spacious plain. 

Mantled with green, itself did spreaden wide. 

On which she saw six knights, that did darrayne^ 

Fierce battle against one with cruel might and main. 

20 Mainly^ they all attonce upon him laid, 
And sore beset on every side around, 

That nigh he breathless grew, yet nought dismayed, 

Ne ever to them yielded foot of ground, 

All had he^ lost much blood through many a wound ; 

But stoutly dealt his blows, and every way. 

To which he turned in his wrathful stound,^ 



1 Weet, know, learn. ^ Darrayne, wage. 

2 Perlous pace, perilous pass. ^ Mainly, strongly. 

3 Hardiment, boldness. '^ All had he, although he had. 
* Edified, built. ^ Stoufid, moment, mood. 



BRirOMART. 13 

Made them recoil, and fly from dread decay,^ 
That none of all the six before him durst assay ^i 

2 1 Like dastard curs, that, having at a bay 

The salvage^ beast embossed^ in weary chase, 
Dare not adventure on the stubborn prey, 
Ne^ bite before, but roam from place to place 
To get a snatch when turned is his face. 
In such distress and doubtful jeopardy 
When Britomart him saw, she ran apace^ 
Unto his rescue, and with earnest cry 
Bade those same six forbear that single enemy. 

22 But to her cry they list not" lenden ear, 

Ne aught the more their mighty strokes surcease^; 

But, gathering him round about more near, 

Their direful rancour rather did increase ; 

Till that she rushing through the thickest preasse^ 

Perforce disparted their compacted gyre,^^ 

And soon compelled to hearken unto peace : 

Tho^^ gan she mildly of them to inquire 

The cause of their dissention and outrageous ire. 

23 Whereto that single knight did answer frame : 
"These six would me enforce, by odds of might, 
To change my liefe,^^ and love another dame ; 

^ Decay, destruction, ^ Apace, quickly. 

- Before him durst assay, dared "^ List not, cared not to. 

attack him in front. ^ Surcease, cause to cease. 

^ Salvage, wild. ^ Preasse, crowd. 

* Embossed, tired out. ^^ Gyre, circle. 

5 Ne, nor. 11 Tho, then. 

12 Liefe, love. 



14 THK FAERY QUEENE. 

That death me liefer ^ were then such despite,^ 

So unto wrong to yield my wrested right : 

For I love one, the truest one on ground, 

Ne list me^ change ; she th' Errant Damsel* hight^; 

For whose dear sake full many a bitter stound^ 

I have endured, and tasted many a bloody wound." 

24 "Certes,"'' said she, " then been ye six to blame. 
To ween^ your wrong by force to justify : 

For knight to leave his lady were great shame 

That faithful is ; and better were to die. 

All loss is less, and less the infamy, 

Than loss of love to him that loves but one : 

Ne may love be compelled by maistery ^; 

For, soon as maistery comes, sweet love anon 

Taketh his nimble wings, and soon away is gone." 

25 Then spake one of those six : " There dwelleth here 
Within this castle wall a lady fair, 

Whose sovereign beauty hath no living pere^*^; 
Thereto so bounteous and so debonaire,^^ 
That never any mote ^^ with her compare : 

1 Liefer, preferable. " • • • o" his breast a bloody cross he 



2 That death me liefer were then 



bore, 



such despite, i.e. I would rather die "^'^^ '^^^'" remembrance of his dying 

than do what I should so scorn 

to do. ^ Hight, is called. 

3 Ne list me, nor do I desire to. ^ Stound, peril. 

* Errant Damsel, i.e. Una, the '^ Certes, certainly, 

heroine of the first book of the ^ Ween, think. 

"Faery Queene." This "single '^ J/a/j/ifrj/, superior power, 

knight " is her champion, and he ^^ Pere, peer, 

is called the Redcross knight be- ^^ Debonaire, gracious, 

cause : ^^ Mote, may. 



BRirOMART. • 15 

She hath ordained this law, which we approve, 
That every knight which doth this way repair, 
In case he have no lady nor no love. 
Shall do unto her service, never to remove : 

26 "But if he have a lady or a love. 

Then must he her forego with foul defame,^ 
Or else with us by dint^ of sword approve^ 
That she is fairer than our fairest dame ; 
As did this knight, before ye hither came." 

"Perdy,"* said Britomart, "the choice is hard ! 
But what reward had he that overcame?" 
"He should advanced be to high regard," 
Said they, ''and have our lady's love for his reward. 

2^ "Therefore aread,^ sir, if thou have a love." 

"Love have I sure," quoth she, "but lady none ; 
Yet will I not fro mine own love remove, 
Ne to your lady will I service done,^ 
But wreak your wrongs wrought to this knight alone, 
And prove his cause." With that, her mortal^ spear 
She mightily aventred^ towards one. 
And down him smote ere well aware he weare^ ; 
Then to the next she rode, and down the next did 
bear. 

28 Ne did she stay till three on ground she laid, 
That^*' none of them himself could rear again : 

1 Defame, dishonor. ^ Done, do. 

2 Dint, stroke. "^ Alortal, death-giving. 

3 Approve, prove. ^ Aventred, aimed. 
* Perdy, truly. ^ Weare, were. 

5 Aread, declare. 10 That, so that. 



16 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

The fourth was by that other knight dismayed, 
All were he^ weary of his former pain ; 
That now there do but two of six remain ; 
Which two did yield before she did them smite. 
"Ah !" said she then, "now may ye all see plain. 
That truth is strong, and true love most of might, 
That for his trusty servants doth so strongly fight." 

29 "Too well we see," said they, "and prove too well 
Our faulty weakness, and your matchless might : 
Forthy,2 fair sir, yours be the damosel. 

Which by her own law to your lot doth light. 
And we your liegemen faith unto you plight." 
So underneath her feet their swords they mard,^ 
And, after, her besought, well as they might. 
To enter in and reap the due reward : 
She granted ; and then in they all together far'd.^ 

30 Long were it to describe the goodly frame 
And stately port of Castle Joyeous,^ 

(For so that castle hight^ by common name), 
Where they were entertained with courteous 
And comely glee of many gracious 
Fair ladies, and of many a gentle knight ; 
Who, through a chamber long and spacious, 
Eftsoones'^ them brought unto their lady's sight. 
That of them cleeped^ was the Lady of Delight. 

1 All were he, although he was; pronounced as two syllables. The 

2 Forthy, therefore. same is true of gracious and 
^ Mard, debased. spacious. 

* Fared, went. ^ Hight, was called. 

^ Joyeous ; the final syllable is '^ Eftsoones, speedily. 

8 Cleeped, called. 



BRITOMART. 17 

31 But, for to tell the sumptuous array 

Of that great chamber, should be labour lost ; 
For living wit, I ween, cannot display 
The royal riches and exceeding cost 
Of every pillar and of every post, 
Which all of purest bullion framed were, 
And with great pearls and precious stones 

embossed^ ; 
That the bright glister of their beames clear 
Did sparkle forth great light, and glorious did appear. 

32 These stranger knights, through passing, forth 

were led 
Into an inner room, whose royalty 
And rich purveyance^ might uneath^ be read*; 
Mote^ prince's place beseem so decked to be. 
Which stately manner whenas they did see, 
The image of superfluous riotize,^ 
Exceeding much the state of mean' degree. 
They greatly wond'red whence so sumptuous guise 
Might be maintained, and each gan diversely devise.^ 

33 The walls were round about apparellM 
With costly cloths of Arras and of Toure^; 
In which with cunning hand was portrayed 
The love of Venus and her paramour, ^^ 

1 Embossed, ornamented with ^ Riotize, extravagance, 
raised work. ' Mean, moderate. 

2 Purveyance, furniture. ^ Devise, imagine. 

2 Uneath, with difficulty. ^ Cloths of Arras and of Toure 

* i?<fat/, imagined. {Tours), tapestry woven at these 

^ Mote, might. places. 

^^ Paramour, lover. 



18 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

The fair Adonis,^ turned to a flow'r ; 

A work of rare device and wondrous wit. 

First did it show the bitter baleful stour,^ 

Which her essayed with many a fervent fit, 

When first her tender heart was with his beauty smit : 

34 Lo ! where beyond^ he lieth languishing, 
Deadly engored of a great wild boar ; 
And by his side the goddess grovelling 
Makes for him endless moan, and evermore 
With her soft garment wipes away the gore 
Which stains his snowy skin with hateful hue : 
But, when she saw no help might him restore, 
Him to a dainty flower she did transmew,^ 
Which in that cloth was wrought, a« if it lively grew. 

35 And all the while sweet music did divide 
Her looser notes with Lydian harmony^; 
And all the while sweet birds thereto applied 
Their dainty lays and dulcet melody. 

Aye carrolling of love and jollity. 

That wonder was to hear their trim consort.^ 



36 Thence they were brought to that great lady's view, 
Whom they found sitting on a sumptuous bed 

1 Adonis, a beautiful youth be- ^ Stour, distress, 

loved of Venus, who was killed * Beyottd, at a distance, 

while hunting a wild boar. The * Transmew, change, 

flower Adonis autumnalis — the ^Lydian harmony; Lydian 

pheasant's eye — was said to have music was said to be of a soft and 

sprung from his blood. voluptuous character. 
® Trim consort^ pleasing concert. 



BRITOMART. 19 

That glist'red all with gold and glorious shew, 
As the proud Persian queens accustomed. 
She seemed a woman of great bountihead^ 
And of rare beauty, saving that askance 
Her wanton eyes (ill signs of womanhead) 
Did roll too lightly, and too often glance, 
Without regard of grace or comely amenaunce.^ 

37 Long work it were, and needless, to devise^ 
Their goodly entertainment and great glee : 
She caused them be led in courteous wise 
Into a bow'r, disarmed for to be. 

And cheered well with wine and spicery : 

The Redcross knight was soon disarmed there ; 

But the brave maid would not disarmed be, 

But only vented up her umbriere,* 

And so did let her goodly visage to appear. 

38 As when fair Cynthia,^ in darksome night, 
Is in a noyous^ cloud enveloped. 

Where she may find the substance thin and light, 

Breaks forth her silver beams, and her bright head 

Discovers to the world discomfited,^ 

Of the poor traveller that went astray 

With thousand blessings she is heried^; 

Such was the beauty and the shining ray 

With which fair Britomart gave light unto the day. 

1 Bountihead, goodness, gener- ^ Cyuthia, the same as Diana, 
osity. the goddess of the moon. 

2 Amenaunce, behavior. 6 ^^oyous, annoying, disagree 
' Devise, describe. able. 

* Vented up her urn brier e, raised "^ Discomfited, dejected, 

her visor. 8 Heried, praised. 



20 THE FAERY QUE EN E. 

39 And eke ^ those six, which lately with her fought, 
Now were disarmed, and did themselves present 
Unto her view, and company'^ unsought; 
For they all seemed courteous and gent,^ 
And all six brethren, born of one parent, 
Which had them trained in all civility. 
And goodly taught to tilt and tournament ; 
Now were they liegemen to this lady free, 
And her knight's service ought,^ to hold of her in 
fee.^ 



40 The first of them by name Gardante^ hight, 
A jolly'' person, and of comely view ; 
The second was Parlante, a bold knight ; 
And next to him Jocante did ensue^; 
Basciante did himself most courteous shew ; 
But fierce Bacchante seemed too fell ^ and keen ; 
And yet in arms Noctante greater grew : 
All were fair knights, and goodly well beseen^^; 
But to fair Britomart they all but shadows been. 

1 Eke, likewise. to hold her land as a stipend for 

2 Compatiy, become her com- service performed, — the land so 
panions. held being called a fief. 

3 Gent, noble. ^ Gardante means a gazer or 
'^ And her knighfs service ought ogler ; Parlante, a prattler ; /<?r- 

(owed), i.e. they held land of her ante, a jester ; Basciante, one who 

on condition that they should kisses ; Bacchante, a drinker of 

perform for her some noble or wine ; and Noctante, a reveller by 

military service — such service night. 

being usually performed on horse- " Jolly, handsome, 

back. *^ Ensue, follow. 

5 To hold of her in fee ; that is, ^ Fell, fierce. 

10 Beseen, appearing. 



BRITOMAKT. 21 

41 For she was full of amiable grace 
And manly terror mixed therewithal ; 
That as the one stirred up affections base, 
So th' other did men's rash desires appal, 
And hold them back that would in error fall : 
As he that hath espied a vermeil rose, 

To which sharp thorns and breres ^ the way forestall, 
Dare not for dread his hardy hand expose, 
But, wishing it far off, his idle wish doth lose. 

42 Supper was shortly dight,^ and down they sat ; 
Where they were served with all sumptuous fare. 
Whiles fruitful Ceres ^ and Lyaeus ^ fat 

Poured out their plenty, without spight ^ or spare ; 
Nought wanted there that dainty was and rare : 



After the meal was over, the knights and ladies amused themselves 
in various ways : — 

43 Some fell to dance ; some fell to hazardry^; 
Some to make love ; some to make merriment ; 
As diverse wits to diverse things apply. 



44 High time it seemed then for every wight 
Them to betake unto their kindly rest : 
Eftsoones" long waxen torches weren light 

1 Breres, briars. * Lycvas, a surname given to 

2 Dight, prepared. Bacchus. 

^ Ceres, the goddess of corn and ^ Spight, grudge, 

tillage. '' Hazardry, gaming. 

" Eftsoones, immediately. 



22 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Unto their bow'rs ^ to gulden every guest : 
Tho,2 when the Britoness saw all the rest 
Avoided ^ quite, she gan herself despoil,* 
And safe commit to her soft feathered nest ; 
Where through long watch, and late day's weary toil, 
She soundly slept, and careful thoughts did quite 
assoil.^ 

Before long, the warlike maiden waked to find herself in danger. 
There was a noise, — 

45 

And the whole family, therewith adread,^ 

Rashly*" out of their roused couches sprong. 

And to the troubled chamber all in arms did throng. 

46 And those six knights, that lady's champions, 
And eke the Redcross knight ran to the stound,^ 
Half armed and half unarmed, with them attons^ : 
Where when confusedly they came, they found 
Their lady lying on the senseless ground : 

On th' other side they saw the war-like maid 
All in her snow-white smock, with locks unbound, 
Threat'ning the point of her avenging blade; 
That with so troublous terror they were all dismayed. 

47 About their lady first they flocked around ; 
Whom having laid in comfortable couch. 
Shortly they reared out of her frozen swownd^^ ; 

1 Bowers, chambers. ^ Adread, frightened. 

2 Tho, then. 7 Rashly, hastily. 
^ Avoided, departed. ^ Stound, alarm. 

■* Despoil, unclothe. ^ Attons, together. ., 

s Assail, put off. 1*^ Swownd, swoon. 



BRITOMAKT. 23 

And afterwards they gan^ with foul reproach 

To stir up strife, and troublous contecke^ broach : 

But, by ensample of the last day's loss,^ 

None of them rashly durst to her^ approach, 

Ne in so glorious spoil themselves emboss^: 

Her succoured eke the champion of the bloody cross.® 

48 But one of those six knights, Gardante hight," 
Drew out a deadly bow and arrow keen. 
Which forth he sent with felonous despite^ 
And fell intent against the virgin sheen ^: 
The mortal ^^ steel stayed not till it was seen 
To gore her side ; yet was the wound not deep, 
But lightly rased ^1 her soft silken skin, 

That ^2 drops of purple blood thereout did weep, 
Which did her lily smock with stains of vermeiP^ 
steep. 

49 Wherewith enraged she fiercely at them flew, 
And with her flaming sword about her laid, 
That none of them foul mischief could eschew, ^^ 
But with her dreadful strokes were all dismayed : 
Here, there, and everywhere, about her swayed 
Her wrathful steel, that none mote^^ it abide; 

1 Gan, began. ^ jjight, called. 

2 Contecke, contention. 8 Despite, malice, hatred. 
^ By ensample of the last day^s ^ Sheen, radiant, fair. 

loss, i.e. warned by the unfortunate ^^ Mortal, deadly, 

experience of the preceding day. i^ Rased, rubbed, grazed. 

*• Her, i.e. Britomart. 12 That, so that. 

^ Emboss, fatigue. 13 Vermeil, vermillion. 

^ Champion of the bloody cross, i"* Eshew, escape from, 

the Redcross knight. i^ Mote, might. 



24 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And eke^ the Redcross knight gave her good aid, 
Aye joining foot to foot, and side to side ; 
That in short space their foes they have quite 
terrified. 

50 Tho^ whenas all were put to shameful flight, 
The noble Britomartis her arrayed, 
And her bright arms about her body dight^ : 
For nothing would she lenger* there be stayed. 
Where so loose life and so ungentle trade^ 
Was used of knights and ladies seeming gent^ : 
So, early, ere the gross earth's gryesy"^ shade 
Was all dispersed out of the firmament, 
They took their steeds, and forth upon their journey 
went. 

1 Eke, also. ^ Ungentle trade, ignoble con- 

2 T/io, then. duct. 

^ Dig/it, disposed. * Gent, high-bred. 

4 Lenger, longer. " Gr)>esy, moist, foggy. 



II. 



Britomart and the Redcross knight journey on together. Going back 
in his narrative, the poet tells how the maiden sees in a tnagic looking- 
glass the image of Arthegall, and how she falls in love with the unknown 
knight. 

1 Here have I cause in men just blame to find, 
That in their proper praise^ too partial be, 
And not indifferent ^ to woman kind, 

To whom no share in arms and chivalry 

They do impart, ne maken memory 

Of their brave gests ^ and prowess martial : 

Scarce do they spare to one, or two, or three. 

Room in their writtes^; yet the same writing small 

Does all their deeds deface, and dims their glories all. 

2 But by record of antique times I find 

That women wont in wars to bear most sway, 
And to all great exploits themselves inclined, 
Of which they still the girlond ^ bore away ; 
Till envious men, fearing their rule's decay,^ 
Gan coin strait'' laws to curb their liberty : 
Yet, sith^ they warlike arms have laid away, 

1 In their proper praise, i.e. in ^ Girlond, garland. 

praising themselves. ® Their rule's decay, i.e. the 

2 Indifferent, impartial. decline of their own authority. 
' Gests, deeds. "^ Strait, strict, rigorous. 

* IVrittes, writings. ^ Sith, since. 



26 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

They have excelled in arts and policy, 
That 1 now we foolish men that praise gin ^ eke 
t' envy.^ 

3 Of warlike puissance in ages spent/ 

Be thoii,^ fair Britomart, whose praise I write ; 
But of all wisdom be thou precedent, 

sovereign Queen,^ whose praise I would endite,'^ 
Endite I would as duty doth excite ; 

But ah ! my rhymes too rude and rugged are, 
When in^ so high an object they do light. 
And, striving fit to make, I fear do mar : 
Thyself thy praises tell, and make them knowen far. 

4 She, travelling with Guyon,^ by the way 

Of sundry things fair purpose ^^ gan to find,^^ 
T' abridge their journey long and ling'ring day : 
Mongst which it fell into that Faery's ^^ mind 
To ask this Briton maid what uncouth ^^ wind 
Brought her into those parts, and what inquest ^^ 
Made her dissemble her disguised kind^^ : 
Fair lady she him seemed, like lady dressed. 
But fairest knight alive, when armed was her breast. 

1 That, so that. 9 Guyon ; this is a mistake ; it 

2 Gin, begin. should be the Redcross knight. 

3 Envy, begrudge. i*^ Purpose, discourse. 

* Spent, passed. n Gan to find, i.e. did find. 

^ Be than, i.e. be thou precedent ^^ Pae^^s, i.e. Faery knight's ; 

or example. Faery because he served the Faery 

6 O sovereign Queen ; Elizabeth, Queen, 
of course, is here referred to. ^^ Uncouth, strange. 

■^ Endite, indite. i* Inquest, quest or adventure. 

^ /;/, i.e. on. i^ Kind, sex. 



BRITOMART. 27 

5 Thereat she sighing softly had no pow'f 
To speak awhile, ne ready answer make ; 

But with heart-thrilling throbs and bitter stour,i 

As if she had a fever fit, did quake. 

And every dainty limb with horror shake ; 

And ever and anon the rosy red 

Flashed through her face, as it had been a flake ^ 

Of lightning through bright heaven fulmined^ : 

At last, the passion past, she thus him answered : 

6 " Fair sir, I let you weet,^ that from the hour 
I taken was from nurse's tender pap, 

I have been trained up in warlike stour,^ 

To tossen spear and shield, and to affrap^ 

The warlike rider to his most mishap ; 

Sithence ^ I loathed have my life to lead, 

As ladies wont, in pleasure's wanton lap. 

To finger the fine needle and nice ^ thread ; 

Me lever were ^ with point of foeman's spear be dead. 

7 "All my delight on deeds of arms is set. 
To hunt out perils and adventures hard. 
By sea, by land, whereso they may be met. 
Only for honour and for high regard, 
Without respect of richesse or reward : 
For such intent into these parts I came, 

* Stour, struggles. ^ In warlike stour, amid the din 
2 Flake, flash. of war, amid warlike scenes. 

^ Fulmined, the same as ful- '^ Affrap, strike. 

niinated ; to fulminate is to thun- '' Sithence, since. 

der, or to hurl lightning. ** Nice, delicate. 

* Let you weet, inform you. ^ Ale lever zvere, I would rather. 



28 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Withouten compass or withouten card,^ 
Far fro my native soil, that is by name 
The Greater Britain,^ here to seek for praise and 
fame. 

8 " Fame blazed hath, that here in Faery-lond 
Do many famous knights and ladies won,^ 
And many strange adventures to be fond,* 

Of which great worth and worship ^ may be won : 
Which to prove, I this voyage have begun. 
But mote I weet of you,^ right courteous knight. 
Tidings of one that hath unto me done 
Late foul dishonour and reproachful spite. 
The which I seek to wreak,*" and Arthegall ^ he 
hight.9" 

9 The word gone out she back again would call. 
As her repenting so to have missaid,^*^ 

But that he, it uptaking ere the fall,^^ 
Her shortly answered : " Fair martial maid, 
Certes ^- ye misavised ^^ been t' upbraid 
A gentle ^^ knight with so unknightly blame : 

1 Card, chart. '^ Wreak, revenge. 

2 Greater Britain. Church says ^ Arthegall ; it has seemed best 
that this means Wales, and is so to follow the original and keep 
called to distinguish it from Lesser the two forms, Arthegall and Arte- 
Brittany in France. Fairy Land gall. 

is England proper. Hillard. ^ Hight, is called. 

3 Won, dwell. i'^ Missaid, said wrongly. 

* Fond, found. ii Ere the fall, i.e. before the 

5 IVorth and worship, distinc- words had fallen from her mouth. 

tion and honor. '^'^ Certes, certainly. 

^ Mote I weet of you, may I learn ^^ Misavised, inconsiderate. 

of you. 1* Gentle, noble. 



BRITOMART. 29 

For, weet^ ye well, of all that ever played 

At tilt or tourney, or like warlike game, 

The noble Arthegall hath ever borne the name.^ 

10 "Forthy^ great wonder were it, if such shame 
Should ever enter in his bounteous* thought, 
Or ever do that mote deserven blame ^: 

The noble corage^ never weeneth ^ aught 

That may unworthy of itself be thought. 

Therefore, fair damsel, be ye well aware, 

Lest that too far ye have your sorrow sought^: 

You and your country both I wish welfare, 

And honour both ; for each of other worthy are." 

1 1 The royal maid woxe^ inly wondrous glad. 
To hear her love so highly magnified ; 
And joyed that ever she affixed had 

Her heart on knight so goodly glorified, 
However finely ^^ she it feigned to hide. 



1 2 But to occasion him to further talk, 

To feed her humour with his pleasing style, 
Her list ^^ in stryfull ^^ terms with him to balk,^^ 

1 Weet, know. 8 j^^^f fj^at too far ye have your 

2 A^aw^, ?.^. of "gentle knight." sorrow sought, i.e. lest you have 

3 Forthy, therefore. cause to repent of your rashness 
* Bounteous, good, noble. in seeking to avenge an imaginary 
^ Or ever do that mote deserven wrong. 

blame, i.e. or if he should ever do ^ IVoxe, became, 

that for which he might deserve ^^ Fifiely, skilfully, 

blame. ii Her list, it pleased her. 

6 Corage, heart. 12 Stryfull, contentious. 

^ JVeeneth, thinketh. "^^ Balk, deal in cross-purposes. 



30 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And thus replied : " However, sir, ye file 

Your courteous tongue his praises to compyle,^ 

It ill beseems a knight of gentle sort, 

Such as ye have him boasted, to beguile 

A simple maid, and work so heinous tort,^ 

In shame of knighthood, as I largely^ can report. 

1 3 " Let be therefore my vengeance to dissuade, 
And read,* where I that faytour^ false may find." 
" Ah ! but if reason fair might you persuade 

To slake your wrath, and mollify your mind," 

Said he, " perhaps ye should it better find : 

For hardy thing it is, to ween by might 

That man to hard conditions^ to bind ; 

Or ever hope to match in equal fight. 

Whose prowess' paragon " saw never living wight. 

14 "Ne^ soothlich^ is it easy for to read ^^ 
Where now on earth, or how, he may be found ; 
For he ne wonneth ^^ in one certain stead,^^ 
But restless walketh all the world around. 

Aye doing things that to his fame redound, 
Defending ladies' cause and orphans' right, 
Whereso he hears that any doth confound 
Them comfortless, through tyranny or might ; 
So is his sovereign honour raised to heaven's height." 

1 Cojupyle, heap up. '^ Whose prowess' paragon, i.e. 

2 Tort, wrong. the like of whose prowess. 

3 Largely, i.e. with full particu- ^ Ne, nor. 

lars. ^ SootJilich, truly. 

* Read, declare. ^° Read, declare, say. 

s Fay tour, deceiver. ^^ Ne wonneth, dwells not. 

^ Conditions ; pronounce con-di- ^^ Stead, place. 



BRITOMART. 31 

15 His feeling words her feeble sense much pleased, 
And softly sunk into her molten heart : 

Heart that is inly hurt is greatly eased 

With hope of thing that may allegge ^ his smart ; 

For pleasing words are like to magic art, 

That doth the charmed snake in slumber lay : 

Such secret ease felt gentle Britomart, 

Yet list the same efforce with feigned gainsay ^i — 

So discord oft in music makes the sweeter lay : — 

16 And said : "Sir knight, these idle terms ^ forbear; 
And, sith* it is uneath ^ to find his haunt. 

Tell me some marks by which he may appear, 
If chance I him encounter paravaunt^; 
For perdy," one shall other slay, or daunt : 
What shape, what shield, what arms, what steed, 

what stead,^ 
And whatso else his person most may vaunt." 
All which the Redcross knight to point aread,^ 
And him in every part before her fashioned. 

17 Yet him in every part before she knew. 
However list her now her knowledge feign, ^^ 
Sith him whilom ^^ in Britain she did view, 

1 Allegge, allay. 6 Pai-avaimt, peradventure. 

2 Yet list the same efforce zvith "^ Perdy, truly. 
feigned gainsay, i.e. yet it pleased ^ stead, place. 

her to restrain this feeling and ^ To point aread, exactly de- 
assume, instead, an air of opposi- scribed. 

tion. 1'^ Ho7vever list her now her 

^ Idle terms, foolish remarks. Joiotoledge feign, i.e. notvvithstand- 

* Sith, since. ing the fact that now she chose to 

^ Uneath, hard. conceal her knowledge. 

11 Whilom, formerly. 



32 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

To her revealed in a mirror plain ; 
Whereof did grow her first engraffed ^ pain, 
Whose root and stalk so bitter yet did taste, 
That, but the fruit more sweetness did ^ contain. 
Her wretched days in dolour^ she mote^ waste. 
And yield, the prey of love, to loathsome death at 
last. 

1 8 By strange occasion she did him behold. 

And much more strangely gan^ to love his sight. 
As it in books hath written been of old. 
In Deheubarth, that now South- Wales is hight.^ 
What time King Ryence reigned and dealed right, 
The great magician Merlin had devised. 
By his deep science and hell-dreaded might, 
A looking-glass, right wondrously aguised,^ 
Whose virtues through the wide world soon were 
solemnized.^ 

19 It virtue^ had to show in perfect sight 
Whatever thing was in the world contained. 
Betwixt the lowest earth and heaven's height, 
So that ^^ it to the looker appertained : 
Whatever foe had wrought, or friend had feigned, 
Therein discovered ^^ was, ne aught mote pass,^^ 
Ne aught in secret from the same remained ; 

^ Engraffed, deeply fixed. ^ Solemnized, celebrated. 

2 Did, i.e. should. ^ Virtue, power. 

* Dolour, grief. i*^ So that, provided that. 

^ Mote, must. 11 Discovered, revealed, dis- 

° Gan, began. played. 

6 Hight, called. 12 X\fe aught mote pass, i.e. nothing 

' Aguised, fashioned. could escape notice. 



BRITOMART. 33 

Forthy^ it round and hollow shaped was, 
Like to the world itself, and seemed a world of 
glass. 

20 Who wonders not, that reads ^ so wondrous work ? 
But who does wonder, that has read the tow'r 
Wherein th' Egyptian Phao ^ long did lurk 

From all men's view, that none might her discoure,^ 
Yet she might all men view out of her bow'r ? 
Great Ptolomaee^ it for his leman's^ sake 
Ybuilded all of glass, by magic pow'r. 
And also it impregnable did make ; 
Yet, when his love was false, he with a peaze '' it 
brake. 

21 Such was the glassy globe that Merlin made, 
And gave unto King Ryence for his guard,^ 
That never foes his kingdom might invade, 
But he it knew at home before he hard^ 
Tidings thereof, and so them still ^^ debarred : 
It was a famous present for a prince, 

And worthy work of infinite reward, 

That treasons could bewray, ^^ and foes convince ^^i 

Happy this realm, had it remained ever since ! 

1 Forthy, therefore. * Discoure, discover. 

2 Reads, reads of. ^ Ptolo7n(Ee, Ptolemy. 
^ The tow'' r whereiji th' Egyptian ® Leman''s, love's. 

Phao, etc. The tower alluded to is '^ Peaze, blow, 

probably the Pharos of Ptolemy ^ Guard, protection. 

Philadelphus. Spenser had evi- ^ Hard, heard, 

dently read some mediaeval legend '^^ Still, always, 

that confused matters. (From ^i Bewray, reveal. 

Prof. Child's note.) ^^ Convifice, conquer. 



54 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

22 One day it fortuned fair Britomart 
Into her father's closet ^ to repair ; 

For nothing he from her reserved apart, 
Being his only daughter and his heir ; 
Where when she had espied that mirror fair, 
Herself awhile therein she viewed in vain : 
Tho,2 her avising ^ of the virtues rare 
Which thereof spoken were, she gan again 
Her to bethink of that mote* to herself pertain. 

23 But as it falleth,^ in the gentlest hearts 
Imperious Love hath highest set his throne, 
And tyrannizeth in the bitter smarts 

Of them, that to him buxom ^ are and prone : 
So thought this maid (as maidens use to done''') 
Whom fortune for her husband would allot ; 



24 Eftsoones^ there was presented to her eye 
A comely knight, all armed in complete wise, 
Through whose bright ventail,^ lifted up on high, 
His manly face, that did his foes agrise ^^ 
And friends to terms of gentle truce entize,^^ 
Looked forth, as Phoebus' ^2 f^c^ Qut of the east 

1 Closet, small room for retire- "^ Use to done, i.e. are in the 

ment. habit of doing. 

- Tho, then. * Eftsoones, immediately. 

8 Avising, bethinking. ^ Ventail, the part of the helmet 

* Of that mote, of that which which could be lifted up, — the 

might. beaver. 

^ Falleth, happeneth. i'* Agrise, terrify. 

6 Buxofn, yielding. i^ Entize, entice. 
^■^ Phahiis, Apollo, the sun god. 



BRITOMART. 35 

Betwixt two shady mountains doth arise : 
Portly ^ his person was, and much increased 
Through his heroic grace and honorable gest.^ 

25 His crest was covered with a couchant'^ hound, 
And all his armour seemed of antique mould. 
But wondrous massy and assured sound, 

And round about yf retted * all with gold, 
In which there written was, with cyphers^ old, 
Achilles arms^ which ArthegalP did win : 
And on his shield enveloped sevenfold 
He bore a crowned little ermilin,^ 
That decked the azure field ^ with her fair pouldred ^^ 
skin. 

26 The damsel well did view his personage. 
And liked well ; ne further fast'ned not,^^ 
But went her way ; ne her unguilty age 
Did ween, unwares, that her unlucky lot 
Lay hidden in the bottom of the pot : 

Of hurt unwist ^^ most danger doth redound : 
But the false archer, which that arrow shot 

1 Portly, stately. "^ Arthegall (Arthur's peer) is 

2 Gest, carriage. meant for Arthur, Lord Grey of 
^ Couchant, lying down with the Wilton, and the arms seem to be 

head raised. devised in allusion to his name. 

^ Yfretted, ornamented with Upton, 

raised work. ^ Ermilin, ermine. 

5 Cyphers, characters. ^ Field, surface of the escutch. 

^ Achilles^ arms. Achilles is the eon. 

hero of Homer's " Iliad." His ^^ Pouldred, spotted, 

arms were forged by the god ^'^ Ne further fasfned not, i.e. '\\gx 

Hephaestus or Vulcan. thoughts dwelt no more upon it. 

12 C/nwist, unknown. 



36 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

So slyly that she did not feel the wound, 
Did smile full smoothly at her weetless ^ woful 
stound.^ 



27 Thenceforth the feather in her lofty crest, 
Ruffed ^ of love, gan lowly to availe ^ ; 

And her proud portance ^ and her princely gest,^ 

With which she erst '^ triumphed, now did quail : 

Sad, solemn, sour,^ and full of fancies frail. 

She woxe^ ; yet wist ^^ she nether how, nor why ; 

She wist not, silly maid, what she did ail, 

Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdy ^^ ; 

Yet thought it was not love, but some melancholy. 

28 So soon as night had with her pallid hue 
Defaced the beauty of the shining sky, 

And reft ^^ from men the world's desired view. 
She with her nurse adown to sleep did lie ; 
But sleep full far away from her did fly : 
Instead thereof sad sighs and sorrows deep 
Kept watch and ward about her warily. 
That nought she did but wail, and often steep 
Her dainty couch with tears which closely ^^ she did 
weep. 

1 Weetless, unconscious. '' Erst, formerly. 

2 Stound, plight. ^ Sotir, peevish. 

3 Rttffed, ruffled. ® Woxe, grew. 
* Availe, sink. "^^ Wist, knew. 
^ Portance, port, carriage. ^^ Perdy, truly. 

6 Cest, bearing. 12 j^^y^^ taken away. 

13 Closely, secretly. 



BRITOMART. 37 

29 And if that any drop of slumb'ring rest 
Did chance to still ^ into her weary sprite,^ 
When feeble nature felt herself oppressed, 
Straightway with dreams, and with fantastic sight 
Of dreadful things, the same was put to flight ; 
That oft out of her bed she did astart. 

As one with view of ghastly fiends affright : 

Tho gan^ she to renew her former smart. 

And think of that fair visage written in her heart. 

30 One night, when she was tossed with such unrest. 
Her aged nurse, whose name was Glauce hight,* 
Feeling her leap out of her loathed nest. 
Betwixt her feeble arms her quickly keight,^ 
And down again her in her warm bed dight ^ : 
"Ah ! my dear daughter, ah ! my dearest dread,^ 
What uncouth^ fit," said she, "what evil plight, 
Hath thee oppressed, and with sad drearyhead^ 
Changed thy lively cheer, ^^ and living made thee 

dead ? 

3 1 " For not of nought these sudden ghastly fears 
All night afflict thy natural repose ; 

And all the day, whenas thine equal peers 
Their fit disports with fair delight do chose, ^^ 
Thou in dull corners dost thyself inclose ; 



1 Still, drop. 6 Dight, placed. 

2 Sprite, spirit, mind. ' Dread, one highly revered. 

3 Tho gan, then began. 8 Uncouth, strange. 

* Hight, called. ^ Drearyhead, sorrow. 

^ Keight, caught. 10 cheer, countenance. 

11 Chose, choose. 



38 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Ne tastest prince's pleasures, ne dost spread 
Abroad thy fresh youth's fairest flow'r, but lose 
Both leaf and fruit, both too untimely shed, 
As one in wilful bale^ forever buried. 

32 ''The time that mortal men their weary cares 
Do lay away, and all wild beasts do rest, 
And every river eke^ his course forbears, 
Then doth this wicked evil thee infest. 

And rive ^ with thousand throbs thy thrilled * breast : 
Like an huge ^tn' ^ of deep engulfed grief. 
Sorrow is heaped in thy hollow chest. 
Whence forth it breaks in sighs and anguish rife. 
As smoke and sulphur mingled with confused strife. 

33 "Ay me ! how much I fear lest love it be ! 
But if that love it be, as sure I read ^ 

By knowen signs and passions which I see, 

Be it worthy of thy race and royal seed,^ 

Then I avow, by this most sacred head 

Of my dear foster child, to ease thy grief 

And win thy will. Therefore away do dread ^ ; 

For death nor danger from thy due relief 

Shall me debar ; tell me, therefore, my liefest lief ^!" 

34 So having said, her twixt her armes twain 
She straitly^*^ strained, and colled ^^ tenderly; 

1 Bale, sorrow. ^ Read, declare. 

2 Eke, likewise. "^ Seed, race. 

3 Rive, rend. ^ Away do dread, i.e. fear not. 
* Thrilled, pierced. ^ Liefest lief, dearest dear. 

^ ALtna, a volcano in Sicily. ^^ Straitly, closely. 

11 Colled, clasped about the neck. 



BRITOMART. 39 

And every trembling joint and every vein 

She softly felt, and rubbed busily, 

To do ^ the frozen cold away to fly ; 

And her fair dewy eyes with kisses dear 

She oft did bathe, and oft again did dry : 

And ever her importuned not to fear 

To let the secret of her heart to her appear. 

35 The damsel paused ; and then thus fearfully : 
"Ah ! nurse, what needeth thee to eke^ my pain? 
Is not enough that I alone do die, 

But it must doubled be with death of twain? 
For nought for me but death there doth remain !" 
"Oh daughter dear," said she, "despair no whit : 
For never sore but might a salve obtain : 
That blinded god, which hath ye blindly smit. 
Another arrow hath your lover's heart to hit." 

36 " But mine is not," quoth she, "like other wound ; 
For which ^ no reason can find remedy." 

"Was never such, but mote* the like be found," 
Said she ^ ; " and though no reason may apply 
Salve to your sore, yet love can higher stye^ 
Then" reason's reach, and oft hath wonders done." 
" But neither god of love nor god of sky 
Can do," said she, "that which cannot be done." 
"Things oft impossible," quoth she, "seem, ere 
begun." 

1 Do, make. * Mote, might. 

2 Eke, increase. 5 ^^^^ jg Glauce. 
^ For which, i.e. my wound is ^ Stye, mount. 

one for which, etc. "^ Then, than. 



40 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

37 "These idle words," said she, "do not assuage 
My stubborn smart, but more annoyance breed : 
For no, no usual fire, no usual rage 

It is, O nurse, which on my life doth feed, 
And sucks the blood which from my heart doth bleed. 
But since thy faithful zeal lets me not hide 
My crime, (if crime it be,) I will it read.^ 
Nor prince nor peer it is, whose love hath gryde ^ 
My feeble breast of late, and launched ^ this wound 
wide : 

38 Nor man it is, nor other living wight ; 

For then some hope I might unto me draw ; 
But th' only shade and semblant * of a knight. 
Whose shape or person yet I never saw, 
Hath me subjected to love's cruel law : 
The same one day, as me misfortune led, 
I in my father's wondrous mirror saw, 
And, pleased with that seeming goodlihead,^ 
Unwares the hidden hook with bait I swallowM. 

39 " Sithens ^ it hath infixed faster hold 
Within my bleeding bowels, and so sore 
Now rankleth in this same frail fleshly mould, 
That all mine entrails flow with pois'nous gore, 
And th' ulcer groweth daily more and more ; 
Ne can my running sore find remedy. 

Other then my hard fortune to deplore, 

1 Read, declare. * Semblant, appearance. 

2 Gryde, pierced. ^ Goodlihead, goodliness. 

3 Launched, pierced as with a ^ Sithens, since that time, 
lance. 



K7 

BRITOMAKT. 41 

And languish as the leaf fall'n from the tree, 

Till death make one end of my days and misery ! " 

40 " Daughter," said she, "what need ye be dismayed ? 
Or why make ye such monster of your mind ? 

Of much more uncouth ^ thing I was afraid ; 

But this affection nothing strange I find ; 
For who with reason can you aye reprove 
To love the semblant pleasing most your mind. 
And yield your heart whence ye cannot remove ? 
No guilt in you, but in the tyranny of love. 

The nurse mentioned some who had loved wrongly, and then said : — 

41 " But thine, my dear, (well fare thy heart, my dear !) 
Though strange beginning had, yet fixed Is 

On one that worthy may perhaps appear ; 

And certes seems bestowed not amiss : 

Joy thereof have thou and eternal bliss ! " 

With that, upleaning on her elbow weak, 

Her alabaster breast she soft did kiss. 

Which all that while she felt to pant and quake, 

As it an earthquake were : at last she^ thus bespake : 

The maiden declared that she had less comfort than those who loved 
wrongly ; for, — 

42 

" Short end of sorrows they thereby did find ; 
So was their fortune good, though wicked were 
their mind. 

1 Uncouth^ strange. 2 sfig^ ^.^. Britomart. 



42 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

43 " But wicked fortune mine, though mind be good, 
Can have no end nor hope of my desire, 

But feed on shadows whiles I die for food, 
And like a shadow wex,^ whiles with entire 
Affection I do languish and expire. 
I, fonder then Cephisus' foolish child,^ 
Who, having viewed in a fountain shere ^ 
His face, was with the love thereof beguiled ; 
I, fonder, love a shade, the body far exiled." 

44 " Nought like," quoth she ; "for that same wretched 

boy 
Was of himself the idle paramour, 
Both love and lover, without hope of joy ; 
For which he faded to a wat'ry flower. 
But better fortune thine, and better hour,* 
Which lov'st the shadow of a warlike knight ; 
No shadow, but a body hath in pow'r^ : 
That body, wheresoever that it light. 
May learned be by cyphers,^ or by magic might. 

45 " But if thou may with reason yet repress 
The growing evil, ere it strength have got. 
And thee abandoned wholly do possess ; 
Against it strongly strive, and yield thee not 
Till thou in open field adown be smott : 

1 Wex^ wax, become. ^ Shere, clear. 

2 Cephisus'' foolish child, i.e. Nar- * Hour, i.e. lot. 

cissus, who fell in love with his ^ No shadow, but a body hath in 

own image reflected in a pool, and powW, i.e. there is no shadow that 

pined away till he was changed has not a body belonging to it. 
into the flower that bears his ^ Cyphers, characters ; here 

name. magic characters 



BRITOMART. 43 

But if the passion mayster^ thy frail might, 

So that needs love or death must be thy lot, 

Then I avow to thee, by wrong or right. 

To compass thy desire, and find that loved knight." 

46 Her cheerful words much cheered the feeble 

sprite 2 
Of the sick virgin, that her down she laid 
In her warm bed to sleep, if that she might ; 
And the old woman carefully displayed ^ 
The clothes about her round with busy aid ; 
So that at last a little creeping sleep 
Surprised her sense. She,* therewith well apayed,^ 
The drunken lamp down in the oil did steep. 
And sate her by to watch, and sate her by to 

weep. 

47 Early, the morrow next, before that day 
His joyous face did to the world reveal, 
They both uprose and took their ready way 
Unto the church, their prayers to appele,^ 
With great devotion, and with little zeal : 
For the fair damsel from the holy herse'' 

Her love-sick heart to other thoughts did steal ; 
And that old dame said many an idle verse 
Out of her daughter's heart fond^ fancies to 
reverse.^ 

1 Mayster, master. ® Appele, i.e. to prefer, to make. 

2 Sprite, spirit. ' Herse, rehearsal (of the ser- 

3 Displayed, spread. vice). 

* She, i.e. Glauce. ^ Fond, foolish. 

^ Apayed, satisfied. ^ Reverse, cause to depart. 



44 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

48 Returned home, the royal infant ^ fell 
Into her former fit ; for why ? no pow'r 
Nor guidance of herself in her did dwell. 
But th' aged nurse,^ her calling to her bow'r,^ 
Had gathered rue, and savin, and the flow'r 
Of camphora,* and calamint,^ and dill ; 

All which she in an earthen pot did pour, 
And to the brim with coltwood*^ did it fill, 
And many drops of milk and blood through it did 
spill. 

49 Then, taking thrice three hairs from off her head, 
Them trebly braided in a threefold lace, 

And round about the pot's mouth bound the thread ; 

And, after having whispered a space 

Certain sad" words with hollow voice and base,^ 

She to the virgin said, thrice said she it : 

" Come, daughter, come ; come, spit upon my face ; 

Spit thrice upon me, thrice upon me spit ,; 

Th* uneven number for this business is most fit." 

50 That said, her round about she from her turned, 
She turned her contrary to the sun ; 

Thrice she her turned contrary, and returned 

^ Infant, the same as infanta ; ^ Bower, chamber. 

a title given in Spain and Portugal * Camphora, camphor, 

to all the children of the king ^ Calamint, a book name for 

except the eldest. plants of the genus calamintha. 

2 But th' aged nurse, etc. The ^ Coltzvood, an old name for 

classic poets, especially Theocritus dittany, a plant of the mint 

and Virgil, have suppHed Spenser family, 

with the various processes of " Sad, weighty, earnest. 

Glance's incantation. Hillard. ^ Base^ low. 



BRITOMART. 45 

All contrary ; for she the right did shun ; 

And ever what she did was straight^ undone. 

So thought she to undo her daughter's love : 

But love, that is in gentle breast begun, 

No idle charms so lightly may remove ; 

That well can witness, who by trial it does prove. 

5 r Ne aught it mote the noble maid avail, 
Ne slake the fury of her cruel flame. 
But that she still did waste, and still did wail. 
That, through long languor and heart-burning 

brame ^ 
She shortly like a pined ^ ghost became 
Which long hath waited by the Stygian strond.^ 
That when old Glauce saw, for fear lest blame 
Of her miscarriage ^ should in her be fond,^ 
She wist ' not how t' amend, nor how it to withstond. 

1 Straight, immediately. ing to Greek mythology. Over 

2 Brame, desire. this river the dead must go to 

3 Pined, tormented. reach their final habitation. 

* Stygian Strojtd, the strand or ^ Miscarriage, i.e. sad condition, 

shore of the Styx, the principal ^ Fond, found, 

river of the lower world, accord- ''' Wist, knew. 



46 



III. 



Britovtart and her mtrse Glauce visit Merlin who tells them of 
Artegall and of the future. They set out for Faeryland in the hope of 
meeting Artegall. 

1 Most sacred fire, that burnest mightily 
In living breasts, ykindled first above 
Amongst th' eternal spheres and lamping ^ sky, 
And thence poured into men, which men call love ; 
Not that same which doth base affections move, 

But that sweet fit ^ that doth true beauty love. 

And chooseth virtue for his dearest dame, 

Whence spring all noble deeds and never-dying fame : 

2 Well did antiquity a god thee deem. 

That over mortal minds hast so great might,- 
To order them as best to thee doth seem, 
And all their actions to direct aright : 
The fatal ^ purpose of divine foresight 
Thou dost effect in destined descents. 
Through deep impression of thy secret might, 
And stirredst up th' heroes high intents. 
Which the late world "^ admires for wondrous moni- 
ments.^ 

* The late world, i.e. men in late 

1 Lamping, shining. times. 

2 Fit, passion. ^ Moniments, monuments, re- 
^ Fatal, foreordained. minders. 



BRITOMART. 47 

But thy dread darts in none do triumph more, 

Ne braver proof in any of thy pow'r 

Show'dst thou, than in this royal maid of yore. 

Making her seek an unknown paramour,^ 

From the world's end, through many a bitter stowre,^ 



4 Begin then, O my dearest sacred dame, 
Daughter of Phoebus and of Memory, 
That dost ennoble with immortal name 
The warlike worthies, from antiquity. 
In thy great volume of eternity ; 
Begin, O Clio,^ and recount from hence 
My glorious sovereign's goodly ancestry. 
Till that by due degrees, and long protense^ 
Thou have it lastly brought unto her excellence. 

5 Full many ways within her troubled mind 
Old Glauce cast^ to cure this lady's grief ; 

Full many ways she sought, but none could find. 
Nor herbs, nor charms, nor counsel that is chief 
And choicest med'cine for sick heart's relief: 
Forthy^ great care she took,^ and greater fear, 
Lest that it should her turn to foul repriefe ^ 
And sore reproach, whenso her father dear 
Should of his dearest daughter's hard misfortune 
hear. 

* Protense, extension. 

^ Paramour, lover. ^ Cast, planned. 

2 Stowre, peril. ^ Forthy, therefore. 

^ Clio, the muse of history ; "^ Great care she took, i.e. she 

more commonly spoken of as the felt great concern, 
daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne. ^ Repriefe, reproof. 



48 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

6 At last she her avised,^ that he which made 
That mirror, wherein the sick damosel 

So strangely viewed her strange lover's shade, 

To weet, the learned Merlin, well could tell 

Under what coast of heaven the man did dwell. 

And by what means his love might best be wrought^: 

For, though beyond the Afric Ismael ^ 

Or th' Indian Peru he were, she thought 

Him forth through infinite endeavour to have sought. 

7 Forthwith themselves disguising both in strange 
And base attire, that none might them bewray,* 
To Maridunum, that is now by change 

Of name Cayr-Merdin ^ called, they took their way : 
There the wise Merlin whilom^ wont (they say) 
To make his wonne,^ low underneath the ground 
In a deep delve,^ far from the view of day. 
That of no living wight he mote^ be found, 
Whenso he counselled with his sprites encompassed 
round. 

8 And, if thou ever happen that same way 
To travel, go to see that dreadful place : 
It is an hideous hollow cave (they say) 
Under a rock that lies a little space 

1 Avised, bethought. ■* Betvray, discover. 

2 Wrought, produced, effected ; ^ Cayr-Merdin, i.e. the city of 
a peculiar use of the word. Merdin or Merlin, is Caermarthen, 

3 Afric Ismael, i.e. the northern in South Wales. Prof. Child, 
part of Africa, inhabited by Moors ^ Whilom, formerly. 

and others, supposed to be the ^ Wonne, dwelling, 

descendants of Ishmael. ^ Delve, dell. 

3 Mote, might. 



BRITOMART. 49 

From the swift Barry, tumbling down apace 
Amongst the woody hills of Dynevowre : 
But dare thou not, I charge, in any case, 
To enter into that same baleful bow'r,^ 
For fear the cruel fiends should thee unwares 
devour : 

9 But, standing high aloft, low lay thine ear, 
And there such ghastly noise of iron chains 
And brazen caudrons^ thou shalt rumbling hear, 
Which thousand sprites with long enduring pains 
Do toss, that it will stun thy feeble brains ; 
And oftentimes great groans, and grievous stownds,^ 
When too huge toil and labour them constrains ; 
And oftentimes loud strokes and ringing sounds 
From under that deep rock most horribly re- 
bounds. 

lo The cause, some say, is this: a little while 
Before that Merlin died, he did intend 
A brazen wall in compass to compile* 
About Cairmardin, and did it commend 
Unto these sprites to bring to perfect end : 
During which work the Lady of the Lake, 
Whom long he loved, for him in haste did send ; 
Who, thereby forced his workmen to forsake. 
Them bound, till his return, their labour not to 
slake. ^ 

^ Stownds, times ; here may be 
i^<?7£;^r, chamber. noises. 

2 Catidj'ons, caldrons. * Compile, construct. 

5 Slake, slacken. 



50 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

1 1 In the meantime, through that false lady's traine ^ 
He was surprised, and buried under bier, 

Ne ever to his work returned again^: 

Natheless those fiends may not their work forbear. 

So greatly his commandement they fear. 

But there do toil and travail day and night. 

Until that brazen wall they up do rear: 

For Merlin had in magic more insight 

Than ever him before or after living wight: 

12 For he by words could call out of the sky 
Both sun and moon, and make them him obey ; 
The land to sea, and sea to mainland dry, 
And darksome night he eke could turn to day ; 
Huge hosts of men he could alone dismay, 

And hosts of men of meanest things could frame, 
Whenso him list his enemies to fray^: 
That to this day for terror of his fame, 
The fiends do quake when any him to them does 
name. 

13 They, here arriving, stayed awhile without, 
Ne durst adventure rashly in to wend, 

But of their first intent gan make new doubt. 
For dread of danger, which it might portend : 
Until the hardy maid (with love to friend) 
First entering, the dreadful mage^ there found 
Deep busied 'bout work of wondrous end, 

1 Traine, artifice. " Vivien " in the " Idylls of the 

2 He was surprised, and buried King." 

tinder bier, etc. See Malory's ^ Fray, terrify. 

" Morte d' Arthur " and Tennyson's * Mage, magician. 



BRITOMART. 51 

And writing strange characters in the ground, 
With which the stubborn fiends he to his service 
bound. 

14 He nought was moved at their entrance bold, 
For of their coming well he wist ^ afore ; 
Yet list them bid^ their business to unfold, 
As if ought in this world in secret store 
Were from him hidden, or unknown of yore. 
Then Glauce thus : " Let not it thee offend. 
That we thus rashly through thy darksome door 
Unwares have pressed ; for either fatal end,^ 
Or other mighty cause, us two did hether send." 

I 5 He bade tell on ; and then she thus began : 

" Now have three moons with borrowed brother's 

light 
Thrice shined fair, and thrice seemed dim and wan, 
Sith* a sore evil, which this virgin bright 
Tormenteth and doth plunge in doleful plight. 
First rooting took ; but what thing it mote ^ be, 
Or whence it sprong, I cannot read^ aright : 
But this I read, that, but if' remedy 
Thou her afford, full shortly I her dead shall see." 

16 Therewith th' enchanter softly gan to smile 
At her smooth speeches, weeting^ inly well 

1 Wist, knew. * * Sith, since. 

- Yet list them bid, i.e. Yet it ^ Mote, may. 

pleased him to bid them. 6 j^ead, declare. 

3 Fatal end, some purpose of ' But if, unless, 

the Fates. ^ IVeeting, knowing. 



52 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

That she to him dissembled womanish guile, 
And to her said : " Beldame, by that ye tell. 
More need of leech-craft ^ hath your damosel, 
Then of my skill : who help may have elsewhere, 
In vain seeks wonders out of magic spell." 
Th' old woman woxe^ half blank those words to 

hear ; 
And yet was loath to let her purpose plain appear ; 

17 And to him said: "If any leech's skill, 

Or other learned means, could have redressed 
This my dear daughter's deep-engraff ed ^ ill, 
Certes I should be loath thee to molest : 
But this sad evil, which doth her infest. 
Doth course of natural cause far exceed. 
And housed is within her hollow breast. 
That either seems some cursed witch's deed. 
Or evil sprite,* that in her doth such torment 
breed." 

18 The wizard could no longer bear her bord,^ 
But, bursting forth in laughter, to her said : 
" Glauce, what needs this colourable^ word 

To cloke the cause that hath itself bewrayed "* ? 
Ne ye, fair Britomartis, thus arrayed. 
More hidden are then sun in cloudy vele^; 
Whom thy good fortune, having fate obeyed, 

1 Leech-craft, physician's skill. ^ Bord, trifling. 

2 Woxe, became. ^ Colourable, specious. 

3 Deep-engraffed, deeply fixed. "^ Bewrayed, betrayed, revealed. 
* Sprite, spirit. ^ Vele, veil. 



BKITOMART. 53 

Hath hether brought for succour to appeal ; 

The which the pow'rs to thee are pleased to reveal." 

19 The doubtful^ maid, seeing herself descried, 
Was all abashed, and her pure ivory 

Into a clear carnation sudden dyed ; 

But her old nurse was nought disheartened. 

But vantage made of that which Merlin had aread^; 

20 And said : " Sith then thou knowest all our grief, 
(For what dost not thou know ?) of grace I pray, 
Pity our plaint, and yield us meet'^ relief ! " 
With that the prophet still awhile did stay. 

And then his spirit thus gan forth display : 
" Most noble virgin, that by fatal lore 
Hast learned to love, let no whit thee dismay 
The hard begin that meets thee in the door, 
And with sharp fits thy tender heart oppresseth 
sore: 

21 "For so must all things excellent begin ; 
And eke enrooted deep must be that tree. 
Whose big embodied branches shall not lin'* 
Till they to heaven's height forth stretched be. 
For from thy womb a famous progeny 

Shall spring out of the ancient Trojan blood, ^ 

1 Doubtful, fearful, apprehen- ^ Trojan blood ; Brutus, the 
sive. mythical founder of Britain, was 

2 Aread, declared. the great-grandson of ^neas of 

3 Meet, fit. Troy. 
* Lin, stop. 



54 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Which shall revive the sleeping memory 
Of those same antique peers, the heaven's brood, 
Which Greek and Asian rivers stained with their 
blood. 

22 " Renowmed ^ kings, and sacred emperors, 
Thy fruitful offspring, shall from thee descend ; 
Brave captains, and most mighty warriors. 

That shall their conquests through all lands extend, 
And their decayed kingdoms shall amend : 
The feeble Britons, broken with long war, 
They shall uprear, and mightily defend 
Against their foreign foe that comes from far, 
Till universal peace compound all civil jar. 

23 "It was not, Britomart, thy wand'ring eye 
Glancing unwares in charmed looking-glass. 
But the straight course of heavenly destiny. 
Led with eternal Providence, that has 
Guided thy glance, to bring His will to pass: 
Ne is thy fate, ne is thy fortune ill. 

To love the prowest ^ knight that ever was : 
Therefore submit thy ways unto His will, 
And do, by all due means, thy destiny fulfill." 

24 "But read,"^ said Glauce, "thou magician,^ 
What means shall she out-seek, or what ways take } 
How shall she know, how shall she find the man } 
Or what needs her to toil, sith Fates can make 

1 i^^«^w;«^^, renowned. ^Magician; last syllable pro- 

2 Prowest, most valiant. nounced as two syllables. 
^ Read, declare. 



BKITOMAKT. 55 

Way for themselves, their purpose to pertake^? " 
Then Merlin thus : " Indeed the Fates are firm, 
And may not shrink, though all the world do shake : 
Yet ought men's good endeavours them confirm, 
And guide the heavenly causes to their constant 
term. 2 

" The man whom heavens have ordained to be 
The spouse of Britomart, is Arthegall : 
He wonneth^ in the land of Faery, 
Yet is no faery born, ne sib * at all 
To elfes, but sprong of seed terrestrial. 
And whilom by false faeries stol'n away. 
Whiles yet in infant cradle he did crawl ; 



26 " But sooth -5 he is the son of Gorlois,^ 
And brother unto Cador, Cornish king ; 
And for his warlike feats renowmed is, 
From where the day out of the sea doth spring, 
Until the closure of the evening : 
From thence him, firmly bound with faithful band. 
To this his native soil thou back shalt bring. 
Strongly to aid his country to withstand 
The pow'r of foreign paynims" which invade thy 
land. 

^ Pertake, partake ; a peculiar ^ Wonnet/i, dwelleth. 

use of the word ; seems here to * Sib, kinsman, 

signify carry otit. ^ Sooth, truly. 

'^Constant term, fixed conclu- '' Ct?rAv>, the Duke of Cornwall, 

sion. " Fayniins, pagans, infidels. 



56 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Merlin then told Britomart something of the mythical history of the 
Britons and of their unsuccessful struggle against the Saxons ; con- 
cluding as follows : — 

27 "Then woe, and woe, and everlasting woe, 
Be to the Briton babe that shall be born 
To live in thraldom of his father's foe ! 

Late king, now captive ; late lord, now forlorn ; 
The world's reproach ; the cruel victor's scorn ; 
Banished from princely bow'r to wasteful wood ! 
O, who shall help me to lament and mourn 
The royal seed,^ the antique Trojan^ blood. 
Whose empire lenger here than ever any stood !" 

28 The damsel was full deep empassioned 
Both for his grief and for her people's sake, 
Whose future woes so plain he fashioned ; 
And, sighing sore, at length him thus bespake : 
" Ah ! but will heaven's fury never slake. 

Nor vengeance huge relent itself at last ? 
Will not long misery late mercy make. 
But shall their name for ever be defaced. 
And quite from off the earth their memory be 
raste^? " 

29 "Nay, but the term," said he, "is limited, 
That in this thraldom Britons shall abide ; 
And the just revolution measured 

That they as strangers shall be notified*: 

For twice four hundred years shall be supplied, 

1 Seed, race. ^ Raste, erased. 

2 Trojan, refers to Trojan set- *> Notified, marked, 
tlement of Britain. ^ Supplied, fulfilled. 



BRITOMART. 57 

Ere they to former rule restored shall be, 
And their importune ^ fates all satisfied : 
Yet, during this their most obscurity. 
Their beams shall oft break forth, that men them 
fair may see. 

30 " For .Rhodorick,^ whose surname shall be Great, 
Shall of himself a brave ensample show, 

That Saxon kings his friendship shall intreat ; 
And Howell Dha^ shall goodly well indew 
The salvage* minds with skill of just and true : 
Then Griffyth Conan^ also shall uprear 
His dreaded head, and the old sparks renew 
Of native courage, that his foes shall fear 
Lest back again the kingdom he from them should 
bear. 

31 "Ne shall the Saxons selves all peaceably 
Enjoy the crown, which they from Britons won 
First ill, and after ruled wickedly : 

For, ere two hundred years be full outrun, 

There shall a raven,^ far from rising sun. 

With his wide wings upon them fiercely fly, 

And bid his faithless chickens''' overrun 

The fruitful plains, and with fell cruelty 

In their avenge tread down the victor's surquedry.^ 

^ l77iportune, troublesome. ^ G^-iffyth Conan died in 11 36. 

2 Roderick the Great began to ^ Raven, i.e. the leader of the 
reign in Wales in 843. Danes. 

3 Howell Dha died about 948. '^ Faithless chickens, i.e. his hea- 
* Salvage, wild, woodland. then brood. 

8 Stcrqtiedry, insolence. 



58 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

32 " Yet shall a third both these and thine subdue : 
There shall a lion^ from the sea-board wood 

Of Neustria^ come roaring, with a crew 
Of hungry whelps, his battailous^ bold brood. 
Whose claws were newly dipped in cruddy^ blood, 
That from the Daniske^ tyrant's head shall rend 
Th' usurped crown, as if that he were wood,^ 
And the spoil of the country conquered 
Amongst his young ones shall divide with bounty- 
head." 

33 " Tho,^ when the term is full accomplishid, 
There shall a spark of fire, which hath longwhile 
Been in his ashes raked up and hid. 

Be freshly kindled in the fruitful isle 

Of Mona,^ where it lurked in exile ^^; 

Which shall break forth into bright burning flame, 

And reach into the house that bears the style 

Of royal majesty and sovereign name : 

So shall the Briton blood their crown again reclaim. ^^ 

1 There shall a lion, etc. This ^'^ There shall a spark, etc. 
is William of Normandy. Llewellyn, the last of the native 

2 N^eustria was the ancient name Welsh princes, made an unsuc- 
of the northwest part of France. cessful resistance to Edward I., 
Plillard. and was defeated and slain. Ed- 

^ Battailous, eager for battle. ward soon after created his own 

* Crudely, curdled. infant son Prince of Wales. Hil- 

^ Daniske, Danish. lard. 

^ Wood, mad. 11 So shall the Briton blood their 

' Bounty head, generosity. crown again reclaim. By the ac- 

^ llio, then.- cession of Henry of Richmond to 

^ Afona, the island now called the crown. Henry, descended from 

Anglesey. the Tudors, was born in Mona, 

now called Anglesey. Upton. 



B A' /TO MART. 59 

34 "Thenceforth eternal union shall be made 
Between the nations different afore, 
And sacred peace shall lovingly persuade 
The warlike minds to learn her goodly lore, 
And civil arms to exercise no more : 
Then shall a royal virgin reign, which shall 
Stretch her white rod over the Belgic shore. 
And the great Castle smite so sore withal, 

That it shall make him shake, and shortly learn 
tofalP: 

35 "But yet the end is not — " There Merlin stayed, 
As overcomen of the spirit's pow'r. 

Or other ghastly spectacle dismayed. 
That secretly he saw, yet note discoure^ : 
Which sudden fit and half ecstatic stoure^ 
When the two fearful women saw, they grew 
Greatly confused in behaviour : 
At last, the fury past, to former hue 
He turned again, and cheerful looks as erst* did 
show. 

36 Then, when themselves they well instructed had 
Of all that needed them to be inquired, 

They both, conceiving hope of comfort glad, 
With lighter hearts unto their home retired ; 

1 Then shall a royal vij-gm ^ j^ote discoure, might not dis- 

reign, etc. This is Queen Eliza- close, 
beth, who assisted the Belgian ^ Stoiire, paroxysm, 

provinces, and shook the power of ^ E^st, at first, 

the king of Castile. Prof. Child. 



60 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Where they in secret counsel close ^ conspired, 
How to effect so hard an enterprize, 
And to possess the purpose they desired : 
Now this, now that, twixt them they did devise. 
And diverse plots did frame to mask in strange 
disguise. 

37 At last the nurse in her fool-hardy wit 
Conceived a bold device, and thus bespake : 

" Daughter, I deem that counsel aye most fit, 
That of the time doth due advantage take : 
Ye see that good King Uther^ now doth make 
Strong war upon the paynim brethren, hight^ 
Octa and Oza, whom he lately brake 
Beside Cayr Verolame^ in victorious fight. 
That now all Brittany doth burn in amies bright. 

38 "That therefore nought our passage may impeach,^ 
Let us in feigned arms ourselves disguise. 

And ourweak hands (need makes good scholars) teach 
The dreadful spear and shield to exercise : 
Ne certes,^ daughter, that same warlike wise, 
I ween,^ would you mis-seem^; for ye been tall 
And large of limb t' achieve an hard emprise^; 
Ne ought ye want but skill, which practice small 
Will bring, and shortly make you a maid martial. 

1 Close, secretly. ^ Impeach, prevent. 

2 Uther, a Welsh king who ^ ^^ certes, nor certainly, 
lived just before Arthur. '^ Ween, think. 

3 Night, called. ® Mis-seem, misbecome. 
* Cayr Verolame, i.e. the city of ^ Emprise, undertaking. 

Verulam. 



BKITOMART. 61 

39 " And, sooth, 1 it ought your courage much inflame 
To hear so often, in that royal house, 

From whence to none inferior ye came, 

Bards tell of many women valorous. 

Which have full many feats adventurous 

Performed, in paragon ^ of proudest men : 

The bold Bunduca,^ whose victorious 

Exploits made Rome to quake ; stout Guendolen ^ ; 

Renowmed Martia^ ; and redoubted Emmilen^; — 

40 ''And, that which more then all the rest may sway, 
Late days' ensample, which these eyes beheld : 

In this last field before Menevia,^ 

Which Uther with those foreign Pagans held, 

I saw a Saxon virgin,^ the which felled 

Great Ulfin^ thrice upon the bloody plain ; 

And, had not Carados^^ her hand withheld 

From rash revenge, she had him surely slain ; 

Yet Carados himself from her escaped with pain." 

41 "Ah! read,"^^ quoth Britomart, "how is she 

highti2?" 
"Fair Angela," quoth she, **men do her call, 

^ Sooth, truly. ® Emniilen. Who Emmilen is, 

2 Paragon, rivalry. is uncertain. Prof. Child. 

3 Bundicca, B o a d i c e a, who ' Menevia, St. David's, a very 
headed a revolt against the Ro- old episcopal city in Wales, 
mans. She died 62 a.d. ^ A Saxon virgin. This Saxon 

^ Guendolen, wife of Locrine, virgin is, I believe, entirely of 
a fabulous king of ancient Britain. Spenser's own feigning. Upton. 

^ Martia, the lawgiver men- ^ Ulfin, \ names taken from 

tioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ^'^ Carados, S old Welsh stories, 

history. " Read, tell. 

12 Hight, called. 



62 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

No whit less fair then terrible in fight : 
She hath the leading of a martial 
And mighty people, dreaded more then all 
The other Saxons, which do, for her sake 
And love, themselves of her name Angles call. 
Therefore, fair infant, her ensample make 
Unto thyself, and equal courage to thee take." 

42 Her hearty words so deep into the mind 

Of the young damsel sunk, that great desire 
Of warlike arms in her forthwith they tined,^ 
And generous stout courage did inspire. 
That she resolved, unweeting^ to her sire, 
Advent'rous knighthood on herself to don ; 
And counselled with her nurse her maid's attire 
To turn into a massy habergeon 2; 
And bade her all things put in readiness anon. 

43 Th' old woman nought that needed did omit ; 
But all things did conveniently purvey. 

It fortuned (so time their turn did fit) 

A band of Britons, riding on forray 

Few days before, had gotten a great prey 

Of Saxon goods ; amongst the which was seen 

A goodly armour, and full rich array. 

Which longed to Angela, the Saxon queen, 

All fretted round with gold, and goodly well beseen.* 

44 The same, with all the other ornaments, 
King Ryence caused to be hanged high 

1 Tilted, kindled. ^ Habergeo)i, coat of mail. 

2 Umveeting, unknown. * Beseen, appearing. 



BRIIVMART. 63 

In his chief church, for endless moniments ^ 
Of his success and gladful victory : 
Of which herself avising^ readily, 
In th' evening late old Glauce thether led 
Fair Britomart, and, that same armoury 
Down taking, her therein apparelled 
Well as she might, and with brave ^ baldric* gar- 
nished. 

45 Beside those arms there stood a mighty spear, 
Which Bladud^ made by magic art of yore. 
And used the same in battle aye to bear ; 
Sith^ which it had been here preserved in store, 
For his great virtues" proved long afore : 

For never wight so fast in sell^ could sit, 
But him perforce unto the ground it bore : 
Both spear she took and shield which hung by it ; 
Both spear and shield of great pow'r, for her pur- 
pose fit. 

46 Thus when she had the virgin all arrayed, 
Another harness which did hang thereby 
About herself she dight,^ that the young maid 
She might in equal arms accompany, 

1 Mojtimejits, monuments, re- ^ Sith, since. 

minders. "^ His great virtues, its great 

'^ A%nsing, bethinking. powers, properties. Since Brito- 

3 Brave, handsome. mart is the knight of Chastity, the 

* Baldric, a broad belt worn sword must represent the power 

over one shoulder. of maidenly purity. 
'^ Bladnd, a legendary king of ^ SeU, saddle. 

England who was said to have ^ J^iglit, disposed. 

built the city of Bath. 



64 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And as her squire attend her carefully : 
Tho^ to their ready steeds they clomb^ full light ; 
And through back ways, that none might them espy, 
Covered with secret cloud of silent night, 
Themselves they forth conveyed, and passed for- 
ward right. 

47 Ne rested they, till that to Faery-lond 
They came, as Merlin them directed late : 
Where, meeting with this Redcross knight, she 

fond^ 
Of diverse things discourses to dilate, 
But most of Arthegall and his estate. 
At last their ways so fell that they mote part : 
Then each to other, well affectionate, 
Friendship professed with unfeigned heart : 
The Redcross knight diverst^; but forth rode 

Britomart. 

1 77/^, then. . ^ FottdAonw^. 

2 Clomb, climbed. * Z>/zvrj/, turned off. 



IV. 



Britomart encotmters MarittelL After his defeat, Marinell is ca7'ried 
by his mother to her chamber in the bottom of the sea. 

1 Where is the antique glory now becjome, 
That whilom wont in women to appear ? 
Where be the brave achievements done by some ? 
Where be the battles, where the shield and spear, 
And all the conquests which them high did rear. 
That matter made for famous poets' verse. 

And boastful men so oft abashed to hear ? 

Been they all dead, and laid in doleful hearse ^ ? 

Or doen ^ they only sleep, and shall again reverse ^ ? 

2 If they be dead, then woe is me therefore ; 
But if they sleep, O let them soon awake ! 
For all too long I burn with envy ^ sore 

To hear the warlike feats which Homer spake 
Of bold Penthesilee,^ which made a lake 
Of Greekish blood so oft in Trojan plain ; 
But when I read, how stout Deborah strake 



1 Hearse, tomb. ^^ Fenthesiiee, Penthesilea, a 

2 Doen, do. queen of the Amazons who came 
^ Reverse, return. to fight for Troy and was slain by 
* Envy, emulation. Achilles. She is not mentioned 

by Homer. 



66 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Proud Sisera,^ and how Camill'^ hath slain 

The huge Orsilochus, I swell with great disdain.^ 

3 Yet these, and all that else hath puissance, 
Cannot with noble Britomart compare, 

As well for glory of great valiance,^ 

As for pure chastity and virtue rare, 

That all her goodly deeds do well declare. 

Well worthy stock, from which the branches sprong 

That in late years so fair a blossom bare, 

As thee, O Queen, the matter of my song. 

Whose lignage from this lady I derive along ! 

4 Who when, through speeches with the Redcross 

knight, 
She learned had th' estate of Arthegall, 
And in each point herself informed aright, 
A friendly league of love perpetual 
She with him bound, and conge ^ took withal. 
Then he forth on his journey did proceed. 
To seek adventures which mote him befall. 
And win him worship through his warlike deed. 
Which always of his pains he made the chiefest 

meed. 



1 How stout Deborah strake ^ Camilla, in Virgil's ^neid ; a 

proud Sisera. Deborah prophe- virgin warrior who slew Orsilo- 

sied that Sisera, a leader against chus while fighting for Turnus 

the Israelites, should be slain by against the Trojans, 
a woman. He was, however, ^ Disdain, scorn for the deeds 

killed by Jael, the wife of Heber, of men (?). 
who drove a tent-peg into his ^ Valiance, valor, 

temple. ^ Conge, leave. 



BRITOMARr. 67 

5 But Britomart kept on her former course, 
Ne ever doft her arms ; but all the way 
Grew pensive through that amorous discourse, 
By which the Redcross knight did erst^ display 
Her lover's shape and chivalrous array : 

A thousand thoughts she fashioned in her mind ; 
And in her feigning fancy did portray 
Him, such as fittest she for love could find, 
Wise, warlike, personable,^ courteous, and kind. 

6 With such self-pleasing thoughts her wound she fed. 
And thought so to beguile her grievous smart ; 

But so her smart was much more grievous bred. 
And the deep wound more deep engored her heart, 
That nought but death her dolour^ mote depart.* 
So forth she rode, without repose or rest. 
Searching all lands and each remotest part. 
Following the guidance of her blinded guest,^ 
Till that to the sea-coast at length she her addressed. 

7 There she alighted from her light-foot beast, 
And, sitting down upon the rocky shore, 
Bade her old squire unlace her lofty crest : 
Tho,^ having viewed a while the surges hoar 
That gainst the craggy clifts did loudly roar, 
And in their raging surquedry ' disdained^ 
That the fast earth affronted ^ them so sore, 

1 Erst, first. 6 Tho, then. 

^ Personable, handsome. '^ Surquedry, insolence. 

3 Dolour, grief. 8 Disdained, felt contempt for 

* Depart, remove. the fact that the fast earth, etc. (?). 

^ Blinded guest, i.e. love. ^Affronted, confronted. 



68 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And their devouring covetise^ restrained ; 
Thereat she sighed deep, and after thus complained : 

8 " Huge sea of sorrow and tempestuous grief, 
Wherein my feeble bark is tossed long, 

Far from the hoped haven of relief. 
Why do thy cruel billows beat so strong. 
And thy moist mountains each on others throng, 
Threat'ning to swallow up my fearful life ? 
O, do thy cruel wrath and spiteful wrong 
At length allay, and stint ^ thy stormy strife. 
Which in these troubled bowels^ reigns and rageth 
rife ! 

9 " For else my feeble vessel, crazed and cracked 
Through thy strong buffets and outrageous blows, 
Cannot endure, but needs it must be wracked 

On the rough rocks, or on the sandy shallows. 
The whiles that Love it steers, and Fortune rows : 
Love, my lewd^ pilot, hath a restless mind ; 
And Fortune, boatswain, no assurance^ knows ; 
But sail withouten stars gainst tide and wind : 
How can they other do, sith both are bold and blind ! 

10 "Thou god of winds, that reignest in the seas, 
That reignest also in the continent,^ 
At last blow up some gentle gale of ease. 
The which may bring my ship, ere it be rent, 

1 Covetise, covetousness. ^ Lewd, ignorant. 

2 Stint, stop. ^ Assurance, steadiness. 

^ Bowels, used sometimes as ^ /// the continent, i.e. on 

heart, i.e. the seat of feeling. land. 



BKITOMAKT. 69 

Unto the gladsome port of her intent ! 

Then, when I shall myself in safety see, 

A table, for eternal moniment 

Of thy great grace and my great jeopardy. 

Great Neptune, I avow to hallow unto thee^! " 

1 1 Then sighing softly sore, and inly deep. 
She shut up all her plaint in privy grief ; 

(For her great courage would not let her weep ;) 
Till that old Glauce gan with sharp repriefe^ 
Her to restrain, and give her good relief 
Through hope of those which Merlin had her told 
Should of her name and nation^ be chief, 
And fetch their being from the sacred mould 
Of her immortal womb, to be in heaven enrolled. 

12 Thus as she her recomforted, she spied 
Where far away one, all in armour bright. 
With hasty gallop towards her did ride : 

Her dolour soon she ceased, and on her dight* 
Her helmet, to her courser mounting light: 
Her former sorrow into sudden wrath 
(Both cousin^ passions of distroubled sprite^) 



1 A table, etc. It was the cus- ^ Repriefe, reproof, 

torn among the Romans for any ^ j^ation, pronounced as a word 

one who escaped shipwreck to of three syllables, 
express his gratitude by hanging * Bight, put. 

up, in the temple of Neptune, a ^ Cousin, kindred, 

tablet or picture representing the ^ Distroubled sprite, disturbed 

circumstances of his danger and mind, 
escape. Hillard. 



70 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Converting, forth she beats the dusty path : 
Love and despite ^ at once her courage kindled 
hath. 

13 As when a foggy mist hath overcast 

The face of heaven and the clear air engroste,^ 
The world in darkness dwells ; till that at last 
The wat'ry southwind, from the seaboard coast 
Upblowing, doth disperse the vapour lo'ste,^ 
And pours itself forth in a stormy show'r ; 
So the fair Britomart, having disclos'te* 
Her cloudy care into a wrathful stowre,^ 
The mist of grief dissolved did into vengeance 
pour. 

14 Eftsoones,^ her goodly shield addressing' fair, 
That mortal spear she in her hand did take, 
And unto battle did herself prepare. 

The knight, approaching, sternly her bespake: 

" Sir knight, that dost thy voyage rashly make 

By this forbidden way^ in my despite,^ 

Ne dost by others' death ensample take, 

I read^^ thee soon retire, whiles thou hast might. 

Lest afterwards it be too late to take thy flight." 



1 Despite, contemptuous defi- ^ Eftsoo>ies, at once, 
ance. " Addressing, adjusting. 

2 Engroste, made thick. ^ Forbidden zuay, forbidden be- 
^ Ld'ste, dissolved. cause the knight allows no one to 
* Disclo'ste, developed, trans- pass. 

muted. ^ /;/ my despite, in defiance or 

^ Stowre, fury. contempt of me. 

^° Read, advise. 



BKITOMART. 71 

15 Ythrilled with deep disdain of his proud threat, 
She shortly thus : " Ply they, that need to fly ; 
Words fearen^ babes: I mean not thee entreat 
To pass ; but maugre^ thee will pass or die:" 
Ne lenger stayed for th' other to reply, 

But with sharp spear the rest made dearly known. 
Strongly the strange knight ran, and sturdily 
Struck her full on the breast, that made her down 
Decline her head, and touch her crouper with her 
crown. 

16 But she again him in the shield did smite 
With so fierce fury and great puissance, 

That, through his three-square scutcheon piercing 

quite 
And through his mailed hauberk, by mischance 
The wicked steel through his left side did glance: 
Him so transfixed she before her bore 
Beyond his croup, the length of all her lance ; 
Till, sadly soucing^ on the sandy shore. 
He tumbled on* an heap, and wallowed in his gore. 

17 Like as the sacred ox that careless stands 
With gilden horns and flow'ry girlonds crowned. 
Proud of his dying honour and dear^ bands. 
Whiles th' altars fume with frankincense around. 
All suddenly with mortal stroke astound 

Doth grovelling fall, and with his streaming gore 

1 Fearen, frighten. * q^^ /^, in. 

2 Mattgre, in spite of. ^ Dear, i.e. bands that are to 
8 Sadly soucing, falling heavily. cost him dear. 



72 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Distains^ the pillars and the holy ground, 
And the fair flow'rs that decked him afore : 
So fell proud Marinell upon the precious shore. 

1 8 The martial maid stayed not him to lament, 
But forward rode, and kept her ready ^ way 
Along the strond ; which, as she over-went. 
She saw bestrowed all with rich array 

Of pearls and precious stones of great assay,^ 
And all the gravel mixed with golden ore: 
Whereat she wond'red much, but would not stay 
For gold, or pearls, or precious stones, an hour. 
But them despised all, for^ all was in her pow'r. 

19 Whiles thus he lay in deadly 'stonishment, 
Tidings hereof came to his mother's ear ; 
His mother was the black-browed Cymoent, 
The daughter of great Nereus,^ which did bear 
This warlike son unto an earthly peer, 

The famous Dumarin ; . . . 



20 



She, of his father, Marinell did name ; 

And in a rocky cave as wight forlorn 

Long time she fost'red up, till he became 

A mighty man at arms, and mickle*^ fame 

Did get through great adventures by him done : 

1 Disiains, stains. * For, notwithstanding. 

2 Ready, speedy. ^ Nereus, an ancient sea-god. 

3 Assay, value. , ® Miclde, much. 



BRITOMART. 73 

For never man he suffered by that same 
Rich strond to travel, whereas he did wonne,^ 
But that he must do battle with the sea-nymph's 
son. 

2 1 An hundred knights of honourable name 
He had subdued, and them his vassals made: 
That through all Faery-lond ^ his noble fame 
Now blazed was, and fear did all invade. 
That none durst passen through that perilous glade : 
And, to advance his name and glory more, 
Her sea-god sire she dearly ^ did persuade 
T' endow her son with treasure and rich store 
'Bove all the sons that were of earthly wombs ybore. 

22 The god did grant his daughter's dear demand, 
To doen his nephew* in all riches flow^: 
Eftsoones his heaped waves he did command 
Out of their hollow bosom forth to throw 

All the huge treasure, which the sea below 
Had in his greedy gulf devoured deep. 
And him enriched through the overthrow 
And wrecks of many wretches, which did weep 
And often wail their wealth which he from them 
did keep. 

23 Shortly upon that shore there heaped was 
Exceeding riches and all precious things, 

1 IVoHHe, dwell. * Nephew, grandson. 

2 Loud, land, 5 7-^ doen, etc., to cause his 
' Dearly, with earnestness. grandson to abound in riches. 



74 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

The spoil of all the world ; that it did pass 

The wealth of th' East, and pomp of Persian 

kings : 
Gold, amber, ivory, pearls, owches,^ rings, 
And all that else was precious and dear, 
The sea unto him voluntary brings ; 
That shortly he a great lord did appear, 
As was in all the lond of Faery, or elsewhere. 

24 Thereto^ he was a doughty dreaded knight, 
Tried often to the scath ^ of many dear,* 
That none in equal arms him matchen might: 
The which his mother seeing gan to fear 
Lest his too haughty hardiness might rear^ 
Some hard mishap in hazard of his life: 
Forthy^ she oft him counselled to forbear 
The bloody battle, and to stir up strife,'' 

But after all his war to rest his weary knife : 

25 And, for his more assurance,^ she inquired 
One day of Proteus^ by his mighty spell 
(For Proteus was with prophesy inspired) 
Her dear son's destiny to her to tell. 
And the sad end of her sweet Marinell : 
Who, through foresight of his eternal skill, 
Bade her from womankind to keep him well ; 

^ Owches, jewels. ' Ajid to stir up strife^ i.e. to 

2 Thereto., besides. forbear stirring up strife. 

^ Scath, harm. ^ Afore assurance, greater secu- 

* Dear, dearly. rity. 

^ Rear, raise, i.e. cause. ^ Proteus, a sea-god who as- 

^ Forth}', therefore. sumed different shapes at will. 



BRirOMART. 75 

For of a woman he should have much ill ; 
A virgin strange and stout ^ him should dismay or 
kill. 

26 Forthy she gave him warning every day 
The love of women not to entertain ; 

A lesson too too^ hard for living clay, 
From love in course of nature to refrain ! 
Yet he his mother's lore did well retain, 
And ever from fair ladies' love did fly ; 
Yet many ladies fair did oft complain, 
That they for love of him would algates^ die; 
Die whoso list for him, he was love's enemy. 

27 But ah ! who can deceive his destiny, 
Or ween^ by warning to avoid his fate "i 
That, when he sleeps in most security 
And safest seems, him soonest doth amate,^ 
And findeth due effect or soon or late ; 

So feeble is the powV of fleshly arm ! 

His mother bade him women's love to hate, 

For she of woman's force did fear no harm ; 

So weening to have armed him, she did quite disarm, 

28 This was that woman, this the deadly wound. 
That Proteus prophesied should him dismay; 
The which his mother vainly did expound 

To be heart-wounding love, which should assay 

'^ Stout, brave. * Ween, think, imagine. 

2 Too too, exceedingly. ^ Amate, confound, 

^ Algates, by all means, absolutely. 



76 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

To bring her son unto his last decay.^ 

So tickle 2 be the terms of mortal state 

And full of subtile^ sophisms, which do play 

With double senses, and with false debate, 

T' approve^ the unknown purpose of eternal fate. 

29 Too true the famous Marinell it found ; 

Who, through late trial, on that wealthy strond^ 
Inglorious now lies in senseless swownd,^ 
Through heavy stroke of Britomartis hond.^ 
Which when his mother dear did understond, 
And heavy tidings heard, whereas^ she played 
Amongst her wat'ry sisters by a pond. 
Gathering sweet daffadillies, to have made 
Gay girlonds from the sun their foreheads fair to 
shade, 

30 Eftsoones both flow'rs and girlonds far away 
She flung, and her fair dewy locks yrent : 
To sorrow huge she turned her former play. 
And gamesome mirth to grievous dreriment ^ : 
She threw herself down on the continent, ^'^ 
Ne word did speak, but lay as in a swowne, 
Whiles all her sisters did for her lament 

With yelling outcries, and with shrieking sowne^^; 
And every one did tear her girlond from her crown. 

^ Decay, ruin, destruction. ^ S%voiv)id, swoon. 

2 Tickle unstable. '^ Hond, hand. 

^ Subtile, subtle. ^ Whereas, where. 

^ Appi'ove, prove. ^ Dreriment, sorrow. 

5 St7'ond, strand. ^"^ Contifient, land. 

11 Sowne, sound. 



BRITOMART. 77 

31 Soon as she up out of her deadly fit 
Arose, she bade her charet to be brought ; 
And all her sisters, that with her did sit, 
Bade eke^ attonce^ their charets to be sought: 
Tho,^ full of bitter grief and pensive thought. 
She to her waggon clomb*; clomb all the rest, 
And forth together went, with sorrow fraught^: 
The waves obedient to their behest 

Them yielded ready passage, and their rage sur- 
ceased.^ 

32 Great Neptune stood amazM at their sight. 
While on his broad round back they softly slid. 
And eke himself mourned at their mournful plight, 
Yet wist" not what their wailing meant, yet did, 
For great compassion of their sorrow, bid 

His mighty waters to them buxom^ be: 
Eftsoones^ the roaring billows still abid,^^ 
And all the grisly^^ monsters of the sea 
Stood gaping at their gate,^^ and wond'red them to 
see. 

33 A team of dolphins raunged ^^ in array 
Drew the smooth charet of sad Cymoent: 
They were all taught by Triton to obey 

1 Eke, likewise. ^ Buxom, yielding. 

2 Attonce, at once. ^ Eftsoones, immediately. 

3 Tho, then. 10 Abid, abode. 

* Clo7nb, climbed. ^^ Grisly, frightful. 

^ Fraught, filled. ^2 Gate, procedure. 

^ Surceased, ended. ^^ Raunged in array, arranged 

' Wist, knew. in proper order. 



78 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

To the long reins at her commandement : 
As swift as swallows on the waves they went, 
That their broad flaggy fins no foam did rear, 
Ne bubbling rowndell ^ they behind them sent ; 
The rest of other fishes drawen were, 
Which with their finny oars the swelling sea did 
shear. 

34 Soon as they been arrived upon the brim 

Of the rich strond, their charets they forlore,^ 

And let their teamed^ fishes softly swim 

Along the margent^ of the foamy shore, 

Lest they their fins should bruise, and surbate ^ 

sore 
Their tender feet upon the stony ground : 
And coming to the place, where all in gore 
And cruddy^ blood enwallowed " they found 
The luckless Marinell lying in deadly swownd, 

35 His mother swooned thrice, and the third time 
Could scarce recovered be out of her pain ; 
Had she not been devoid of mortal slime, 

She should not then have been re-lived^ again : 
But, soon as life recovered had the reign, 
She made so piteous moan and dear wayment,^ 
That the hard rocks could scarce from tears refrain : 



1 Rowndell^ globule. ^ Criiddy, curdled. 

2 Forlore, left. '^ Enwallowed, rolling in. 

3 Teamed, yoked as in a team. ^ Re-lived, revived. 

** Margeiit, margin. ^ Dear ivayment, heartfelt 1am- 

^ Surbate, batter. entation. 



BRITOMART. 79 

And all her sister nymphs with one consent 
Supplied her sobbing breaches ^ with sad com- 
plement. ^ 

36 "Dear image of myself," she said, "that is 
The wretched son of wretched mother born, 
Is this thine high advancement ? O ! is this 

Th' immortal name, with which thee, yet unborn, 

Thy grandsire Nereus promised to adorn ? 

Now liest thou of life and honour reft^; 

Now liest thou a lump of earth forlorn ; 

Ne of thy late life memory is left ; 

Ne can thy irrevocable destiny be wefte* ! 

37 " Fond^ Proteus, father of false prophecies ! 
And they more fond that credit to thee give ! 
Not this the work of woman's hand ywis,^ 

That so deep wound through these dear members 

drive. 
I feared love ; but they that love do live ; 
But they that die do neither love nor hate : 
Nathless to thee thy folly I forgive ; 
And to myself, and to accursed fate. 
The guilt I do ascribe : dear wisdom bought too late ! 

38 "O ! what avails it of immortal seed" 
To be ybred and never born to die .'* 

^ Sobbing breaches, i.e. the in- ^ Reft, bereft, 

tervals of her sobbmg. * Wefte, avoided. 

- Complement, accessory, sup- ^ Fond, foolish, 

plement. ^ Ywis, surely. 

■^ Seed, race. 



80 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Far better I it deem to die with speed, 
Then ^ waste in woe and wailful ^ misery : 
Who dies, the utmost dolour doth abye^; 
But who that lives is left to wail his loss : 
So life is loss, and death felicity : 
Sad life worse than glad death ; and greater cross 
To see friend's grave, then dead the grave self to 
engross.* 

39 " But if the heavens did his day envy,^ 

And my short bliss malign,^ yet mote they well 
Thus much afford me, ere that he did die, 
That the dim eyes of my dear Marinell 
I mote" have closed, and him bed^ farewell, 
Sith other offices for mother meet 

They would not grant 

Yet, maulgre ^ them, farewell, my sweetest sweet ! 
Farewell, my sweetest son, sith we no more shall 
meet ! " 

40 Thus when they all had sorrowed their fill. 
They softly gan to search his grisly^^ wound : 
And, that they might him handle more at will. 
They him disarmed ; and, spreading on the ground 
Their watchet^^ mantles fringed with silver round. 
They softly wiped away the jelly blood 

1 Then, than. ^ Malign, begrudge. 

2 Wailful, mournful. "^ Mote, might. 
^ Abye, endure. ^ Bed, bade. 

* Engross, occupy. ^ Matdgre, in spite of. 

^ Envy, begrudge. ^^ Grisly, dreadful. 

1^ Watchet, pale blue. 



BRITOMART. 81 

From th' orifice ; which, having well upbound, 
They poured in sovereign balm and nectar good, 
Good both for earthly med'cine and for heavenly 
food. 

41 Tho,^ when the lily-handed Liagore 
(This Liagore whilom ^ had learned skill 
In leech's^ craft, by great Apollo's lore,* 
Sith her whilom upon high Pindus hill^ 
He loved,) ....... 

Did feel his pulse, she knew there stayed still 

Some little life his feeble sprites^ among ; 

Which to his mother told, despair she from her flung. 

42 Tho, up him taking in their tender hands, 
They easily unto her charett" bear: 

Her team at her commandment quiet stands, 
Whiles they the corse ^ into the waggon rear, 
And strow with flow'rs the lamentable beare^: 
Then all the rest into their coaches clim,^^ 
And through the brackish waves their passage 

shear ^^ ; 
Upon great Neptune's neck they softly swim, 
And to her wat'ry chamber swiftly carry him. 

1 Tho, then. in Thessaly, the seat of the 

2 Whilom, formerly. muses. 

8 Leech's, physician's. ^ Sprites, spirits. 

* Apollo's lore ; Apollo and his " Charett, chariot, 

son ^sculapius were revered as ** Corse, body, 

the chief gods of healing. ^ Beare, bier. 

^ Pindus hill, a lofty mountain 1*^ Clini, climb. 

1^ Shear, cut. 



82 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

43 Deep in the bottom of the sea, her bow'r^ 
Is built of hollow billows heaped high, 
Like to thick clouds that threat a stormy show'r, 
And vauted^ all within like to the sky. 
In which the gods do dwell eternally: 
There they him laid in easy couch well dight,^ 
And sent in haste for Tryphon,^ to apply 
Salve to his wounds, and medicines of might : 
For Tryphon of sea-gods the sovereign leech is hight 



44 The whiles the nymphs sit all about him round, 
Lamenting his mishap and heavy plight ; 

And oft his mother, viewing his wide wound, 
Cursed the hand that did so deadly smite 
Her dearest son, her dearest heart's delight : 
But none of all those curses overtook 
The warlike maid, th' ensample of that might ^ ; 
But fairly well she thrived, and well did brook 
Her noble deeds,^ ne her right course for ought 
forsook. 

45 Yet did false Archimage^ her still pursue. 
To bring to pass his mischievous intent, 

^ Bower, chamber, dwelling. had in the overthrow of Marinell 

2 Vauted, vaulted. given a specimen of her power. 
^ Dight, arranged. '^ And well did brook her noble 

* Tryphon. There is no leech deeds, i.e. she did not suffer in 

of the sea-gods in classical myth- consequence of her noble deeds. 

ology. Hillard. ^ Archimage, or Archi7nago, a 

^ Night, called. wicked enchanter described in the 

^ The wm-like maid, th'' ensample first book of the " Faery Queene," 

of that might, i.e. Britomart, who the chief enemy of the Redcross 

knight and Una. 



BRITOMART. 83 

Now that he had her singled from the crew 

Of courteous knights, the prince and faery gent,^ 

Whom late in chase of beauty excellent 

She left, pursuing that same foster ^ strong ; 

Of whose foul outrage they impatient, 

And full of fiery zeal, him followed long, 

To rescue her^ from shame, and to revenge her 



rescue of the lady " upon a milk- 
1 The prince and faery gent, white palfrey." 
i.e. Prince Arthur and the noble '^ Foster, forester, 

faery, or faery knight, Sir Guyon, 3 ^^^^ /^_ tj^g \^^^ pursued by 

who left Britomart to go to the the forester. 



The Night at Malbecco's Castle. 

Satyrane and Paridell, two of Gloriana's champions, found them- 
selves on a dark and stormy night outside the castle of a man known 
as Malbecco. As admittance was not readily granted, Paridell wished 
to force an entrance. 

1 " Nay, let us first/' said Satyrane, " entreat 
The man, by gentle means, to let us in ; 
And afterwards affray ^ with cruel threat, 
Ere that we to efforce ^ it do begin : 
Then, if all fail, we will by force it win, 

And eke ^ reward the wretch for his mesprise,* 
As may be worthy of his heinous sin." 
That counsel pleased : then Paridell did rise. 
And to the castle-gate approached in quiet wise : 

2 Whereat soft knocking, entrance he desired. 
The good man self, which then the porter played, 
Him answered, that all were now retired 

Unto their rest, and all the keys conveyed 
Unto their master who in bed was laid. 
That none him durst awake out of his dream; 
And therefore them of patience gently prayed. 
Then Paridell began to change his theme. 
And threat'ned him with force and punishment 
extreme. 

1 Affray, frighten. ' Eke, also. 

2 Efforce, force. * Mesprise, contempt. 



BRITOMART. 85 

But all in vain ; for nought mote him relent^: 

And now so long before the wicket fast 

They waited, that the night was forward spent, 

And the fair welkin ^ foully overcast 

Gan blowen up a bitter stormy blast, 

With show'r and hail so horrible and dread. 

That this fair many^ were compelled at last 

To fly for succour to a little shed. 

The which beside the gate for swine was ordered. 

It fortuned,* soon after they were gone, 
Another knight, whom tempest thether brought. 
Came to that castle, and with earnest moan. 
Like as the rest, late entrance dear^ besought; 
But, like so as the rest, he prayed for nought ; 
For flatly he of entrance was refused : 
Sorely thereat he was displeased, and thought 
Plow to avenge himself so sore abused. 
And evermore the carle ^ of courtesy accused." 

But, to avoid th'. intolerable stowre,^ 
He was compelled to seek some refuge near. 
And to that shed, to shroud him from the show'r. 
He came, which full of guests he found whilere,^ 
So as he was not let ^^ to enter there : 



1 Mote hifn relent, could soften ^ Carle, churl. 

him. "' Of courtesy accused, i.e. ac- 

2 Welkin, sky. cused of lack of courtesy. 

* Many, company. 8 Stoxvre, storm. 

* Fortuned, happened. ^ Whilere, before (him). 
^ Dear, earnestly. lo j^^f^ allowed. 



86 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Whereat he gan to wex ^ exceeding wroth, 
And swore that he would lodge with them yfere,^ 
Or them dislodge, all were they lief or loath ^; 
And so defied them each, and so defied them both. 

6 Both were full loath to leave that needful tent,* 
And both full loath in darkness to debate; 

Yet both full lief him lodging to have lent, 

And both full lief his boasting to abate : 

But chiefly Paridell his heart did grate ^ 

To hear him threaten so despitefuUy, 

As if he did a dog in kennel rate 

That durst not bark ; and rather had he die 

Then, when he was defied, in coward corner lie. 

7 Tho,^ hastily remounting to his steed. 

He forth issued ; like as a boistrous wind. 
Which in th' earth's hollow caves hath long been hid 
And shut up fast within her prisons blind. 
Makes the huge element," against her kind,^ 
To move and tremble as it were aghast, 
Until that it an issue forth may find ; 
Then forth it breaks, and with his ^ furious blast 
Confounds both land and seas, and skies doth over- 
cast. 

^ Wex, wax, grow. ^ Tho, then. 

- Yfere, together. " The huge element, i.e. ihee^xth.. 

^ All were they lief or loath, ^ Kind, nature. 

i.e. whether they were willing or ^ His. Its did not come into 

unwilling. general use until after Spenser's 

^ Tent, shelter. time. Even Shakespeare uses his 

^ Grate, fret. for its in many cases. 



BRITOMART. 87 

8 Their steel-head spears they strongly couched, and 

met 
Together with impetuous rage and force, 
That with the terror of their fierce affret ^ 
They rudely drove to ground both man and horse. 
That each awhile lay like a senseless corse. 
But Paridell, sore bruised with the blow, 
Could not arise, the counterchange to scorse ^ ; 
Till that young squire him reared from below; 
Then drew he his bright sword, and gan about him 

throw. 

9 But Satyrane, forth stepping, did them stay. 
And with fair treaty pacified their ire : 

Then, when they were accorded ^ from the fray, 
Against that castle's lord they gan conspire. 
To heap on him due vengeance for his hire. 
They been agreed, and to the gates they go 
To burn the same with unquenchable fire. 
And that uncourteous carle, their common foe. 
To do foul death to die,^ or wrap in grievous woe. 

o Malbecco seeing them resolved indeed 

To flame the gates, and hearing them to call 
For fire in earnest, ran with fearful speed. 
And, to them calling from the castle wall. 
Besought them humbly him to bear with all, 
As ignorant of servants' bad abuse 
And slack attendance unto strangers' call. 

1 Affret. encounter. 4 f^ j^ j-^^i j^.^^fji f^ ^/^^ /^_ to 

2 Scorse, exchange, give back. cause him to die a foul death. 

3 Accorded, made to agree. 



88 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

The knights were willing all things to excuse, 
Though nought believed, and entrance late did not 
refuse. 

1 1 They been ybrought into a comely bow'r,i 
And served of all things that mote needful be ; 
Yet secretly their host did on them low'r, 
And welcomed more for fear than charitee ; 
But they dissembled what they did not see,^ 
And welcomed themselves. Each gan undight^ 
Their garments wet, and weary armour free, 

To dry themselves by Vulcan's ^ flaming light. 
And eke^ their lately bruised parts to bring in 
plight.^ 

12 And eke that stranger knight amongst the rest 
Was for like need enforced to disarray : 
Tho,^ whenas vailed was her lofty crest, ^ 

Her golden locks, that were in trammels ^ gay 
Upbounden, did themselves adown display, 
And raught ^^ unto her heels ; like sunny beams. 
That in a cloud their light did long time stay. 
Their vapour vaded,^^ show their golden gleams, 
And through the persant ^^ ^ir shoot forth their 
azure streams. 

^ Bower, room. ' Tho, then. 

2 But they dissembled, etc., i.e. ^ Whenas vailed was hej- lofty 

they appeared as though they had crest, i.e. when her helmet was 

been hospitably received. doffed. 

^Undight, to put off. ^ Trammels, braids. 

4 Vulcan, the god of fire. lo Ranght, reached. 

s Eke, also. ii Vaded, dissipated. 

6 Flight, order. 12 Persant, sharp, clear. 



BRITOMART. 89 

1 3 She also doft her heavy haberieon,^ 

Which the fair feature of her limbs did hide ; 
And her well-plighted ^ frock, which she did won^ 
To tuck about her short when she did ride, 
She low let fall, that flowed from her lank side 
Down to her foot with careless modestee. 
Then of them all she plainly was espied 
To be a womanwight, unwist to be. 
The fairest womanwight that ever eye did see. 

14 Like as Bellona,^ being late returned 
From slaughter of the giants conquered, — 
Where proud Encelade,^ whose wide nostrils 

burned 
With breathed flames like to a furnace red, 
Transfixed with her spear, down tumbled dead 
From top of Hemus^ by him heaped high, — 
Hath loosed her helmet from her lofty head, 
And her Gorgonian shield ^ gins to untie 
From her left arm, to rest in glorious victory. 

1 5 Which whenas they beheld, they smitten were 
With great amazement at so wondrous sight ; 
And each on other, and they all on her, 
Stood gazing ; as if sudden great affright 

1 Haberieon, habergeon, coat of ^ Encelade, Enceladus, the giant 
mail. buried under Mount Aetna. 

2 Well-plighted, well-folded. ^ Hemus, Haemus ; ancient 

3 Did won, did use. name of the Balkan mountains. 

* Bellona, the goddess of war ; "^ Gorgonian shield, Minerva's 

here stands for Minerva. shield which bore the fatal Gor- 

gon's head. 



90 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Had them surprised. At last avising ^ right 

Her goodly personage and glorious hue, 

Which they so much mistook, they took delight 

In their first error, and yet still anew 

With wonder of her beauty fed their hungry view : 

1 6 Yet note 2 their hungry view be satisfied, 
But, seeing, still the more desired to see, 
And ever firmly fixed did abide 

In contemplation of divinitee : 

But most they marvelled at her chivalree 

And noble prowess, which they had approved,^ 

That much they fained^ to know who she mote ^ be; 

Yet none of all them her thereof amoved^ ; 

Yet every one her liked, and every one her loved. 

The lady of the castle soon appeared and kindly welcomed the 
warriors. 

17 Now, when of meats and drinks they had their fill. 
Purpose was moved by that gentle dame 

Unto those knights adventurous, to tell 

Of deeds of arms which unto them became,^ 

And every one his kindred and his name. 



18 So long these knights discoursed diversely 
Of strange affairs, and noble hardiment,^ 

1 Avising, contemplating. ^ Mote, might. 

2 N'ote, could not. ^ Amoved, i.e. questioned. 

3 Approved, proved. "^ Became, happened. 

* Fained., desired. ^ Hardiment, bold deeds. 



BRITOMART. 91 

Which they had passed with mickle jeopardy, 
That now the humid night was far forth spent, 
And heavenly lamps were halfendeale ^ ybrent^: 
Which th' old man ^ seeing well, who too long 

thought 
Every discourse, and every argument. 
Which by the hours he measured, besought 
Them go to rest. So all unto their bow'rs* were 

brought. 

1 Halfendeale, the half part. ^ 77/' old vian, i.e. Malbecco, 

^ Ybrent, burned. the host. 

* Bowers, chambers. 



VI. 



Amoret and the Garden of Venus. 

Scudamour, whom Kritomart was about to meet, was the husband of 
the beautiful Amoret. Amoret was the daughter of Chrysogonee and 
the twin sister of Belphcebe. Soon after the birth of these children, 
Chrysogonee fell asleep in a forest ; and the goddesses Venus and Diana 
happening along just then, took each a child from the sleeping mother. 

1 Up they them took, each one a babe uptook, 
And with them carried to be fostered : 
Dame Phoebe^ to a nymph her babe betook 
To be upbrought in perfect maidenhead,^ 
And, of herself, her name Belphoebe reader 
But Venus hers thence far away conveyed. 
To be upbrought in goodly womanhead ; 

And, in her little Love's stead which was strayed,* 
Her Amoretta called, to comfort her dismayed.^ 

2 She brought her to her joyous paradise 

Where most she wonnes,^ when she on earth does 

dwell : 
So fair a place as nature can devise : 

1 Fha'be, Diana, the goddess of phcehe read, i.e. called her Bel- 
the moon ; the maiden goddess phcebe, after herself. 

devoted to the chase. * In her little Love's stead, etc., 

2 Maidenhead, maidenhood. i.e. in the place of Cupid who had 

3 Ajid, of herself, her najne Bel- run away from his mother. 

^ Dismayed, dejected. ^ JVonnes, dwells. 



BR /TO MART. 93 

Whether in Paphos,^ or Cytheron hill,^ 
Or it in Gnidus ^ be, I wote * not well ; 
But well I wote by trial, that this same 
All other pleasant places doth excel, 
And called is, by her lost lover's name, 
» The garden of Adonis,^ far renowmed by fame. 

3 There is continual spring, and harvest there 
Continual, both meeting at one time : 

For both the boughs do laughing blossoms bear, 
And with fresh colors deck the wanton prime,^ 
And eke attonce*" the heavy trees they climb. 
Which seem to labour under their fruits' load : 
The whiles the joyous birds make their pastime 
Among the shady leaves, their sweet abode. 
And their true loves without suspicion tell abroad. 

4 Right in the middest of that paradise 

There stood a stately mount, on whose round top 
A gloomy grove of myrtle trees did rise. 
Whose shady boughs sharp steel did never lop. 
Nor wicked beasts their tender buds did crop. 
But like a garland compassed the height. 
And from their fruitful sides sweet gum did drop, 

1 Pap/ios, 2l city on the island celebrated for its statue of Venus, 
of Cyprus, which contained a cele- the work of Praxiteles. 

brated temple of Venus. "* Wote, know. 

2 Cytheron hill, refers to the ^ Adonis, a youth of extraordin- 
town of Cythera in Crete, or to ary beauty beloved by Venus, and 
the island of Cythera, where Venus by her changed into an anemone, 
was said to have first landed. ^ IVanton prime, luxuriant 

3 Gnidus, a Doric city in Caria spring. 

" Eke attonce, also together. 



94 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

That all the ground, with precious dew bedight,^ 
Threw forth most dainty odours and most sweet 
delight. 

5 And in the thickest covert of that shade 
There was a pleasant arbour, not by art 
But of the trees' own inclination made. 

Which knitting their rank'^ branches part to part, 

With wanton ivy-twine entrailed athwart,^ 

And eglantine * and caprifole ^ among, 

Fashioned above within their inmost part. 

That nether Phoebus'^ beams could through them 

throng, 
Nor Coins' " sharp blast could work them any wrong. 

6 And all about grew every sort of flow'r, 

To which sad lovers were transformed of yore ; 

Fresh Hyacinthus,^ Phoebus' paramour 

And dearest love ; 

Foolish Narcisse,^ that likes the wat'ry shore ; 

Sad Amaranthus,^^ made a flow'r but late, 

Sad Amaranthus, in whose purple gore 

1 Bedig/it, covered. by him. The hyacinth was fabled 

2 Rank, luxuriant. to have sprung from his blood. 

3 Entrailed atJnvart, twisted ^ Narcisse, Narcissus, a beauti- 
across. ful youth who fell in love with his 

* Eglantine, wild rose. own reflection as seen in a foun- 

'^ Caprifole, woodbine. tain. He was changed to the 

^ Phcebus, Apollo, the sun-god. flower Narcissus. 
■^ yEolus, the ruler of the winds. ^'^ AmarantJins, amaranth, 

^ Hyacifit/uis, a youth beloved which signifies unfading. Among 

by Apollo and accidentally killed the ancients this flower was the 

symbol of immortality. 



BRITOMART. 95 

Meseems I see Amintas' wretched fate/ 
To whom sweet poets' verse hath given endless 
date. 

Hether great Venus brought this infant fair, 

The younger daughter of Chrysogonee, 

And unto Psyche ^ with great trust and care 

Committed her, yfostered to be, 

And trained up in true feminitee^: 

Who no less carefully her tendered* 

Than her own daughter Pleasure, to whom she 

Made her companion, and her lessoned^ 

In all the lore of love and goodly womanhead. 

In which when she to perfect ripeness grew. 
Of grace and beauty noble paragon. 
She brought her forth into the worldes view, 
To be th' ensample of true love alone. 
And loadstar of all chaste affection ^ 
To all fair ladies that do live on ground. 
To Faery court she came ; where many one 
Admired her goodly 'haviour, and found 
His feeble heart wide launched" with love's cruel 
wound. 



^ Amintas' 7vretcJied fate. This 3 /r^;;^/;;//^^^ ^Yomanhood. 

is supposed to allude to the un- * Tendered, cared for. 

timely fate of Sir Philip Sidney. ^ Lessoned, taught. 

Hillard. ^ Affection, pronounced as word 

2 Psyche (breath or soul) ; a of four syllables, 

maiden beloved by Cupid and " Launched, pierced, 
made immortal by Jupiter. 



96 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

9 But she to none of them her love did cast, 
Save to the noble knight, Sir Scudamore, 
To whom her loving heart she linked fast 
In faithful love, t' abide for evermore ; 
And for his dearest sake endured sore. 
Sore trouble of an heinous enemy, 
Who her would forced have to have forlore ^ 
Her former love and steadfast loyalty, 
As ye may elsewhere read that rueful history. 

1 Forlore, abandoned. 



VII. 



After separating from Satyrane, Britomart meets Sciidatnoiir, tJie 
Jiitsband of Amoret. Together they proceed to the house of the enchanter 
Biisyrane. 

1 O HATEFUL hellish snake ! what fury first 
Brought thee from baleful house of Prosperine,^ 
Where in her bosom she thee long hath nurst, 
And fost'red up with bitter milk of tine^; 
P^oul Jealousy ! that turnest love divine 

To joyless dread, and mak'st the loving heart 
With hateful thoughts to languish and to pine, 
And feed itself with self-consuming smart. 
Of all the passions in the mind thou vilest art ! 

2 O let him far be banished away. 

And in his stead let Love forever dwell ! 

Sweet Love, that doth his golden wings embay ^ 

In blessed nectar and pure pleasure's well, 

Untroubled of vile fear or bitter fell.'^ 

And ye, fair ladies, that your kingdoms make 

In th' hearts of men, them govern wisely well. 

And of fair Britomart ensample take, 

That was as true in love as turtle ^ to her make.^ 

1 Proserpine, Proserpina, the 2 Xi)ie, woe. 

daughter of Ceres, who was car- » Embay, bathe, 

ried down to Hades by Pluto to * Fell, gall, 

be his bride. ^ Turtle, turtle-dove. 

* Make, mate. 



98 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

3 Who, with Sir Satyrane, as erst ^ ye read, 
Forth riding from Malbecco's hostless^ house, 
Far off espied a young man, the which fled 
From an huge giant, that with hideous 
And hateful outrage long him chased thus ; 
It was that Ollyphant,^ the brother dear 
Of that Argante vile and vicious,* 
From whom the Squire of Dames was reft ^ 

whilere^; 
This all as bad as she, and worse, if worse ought 

were. 

• 

4 

Whom when as Britomart beheld behind 

The fearful boy so greedily pursue. 
She was emmoved *" in her noble mind 
T' employ her puissance to his rescue. 
And pricked ^ fiercely forward where she did him 
view. 

5 Ne^ was Sir Satyrane her far behind, 

But with like fierceness did ensue ^^ the chase ; 
Whom when the giant saw, he soon resigned 
His former suit,i^ and from them fled apace : 



^ Erst, first, formerly. ^ W/iilere, formerly. 

2 I/ostless, inhospitable. "' Emmo7<ed, moved. 

3 It was that Ollyphant, etc. ^ Pricked, rode fast, using 
This refers to an incident related spurs. 

in Book III, Canto VII. 9 Ne, nor. 

^ Vicious, pronounced as a word '^^ Ensue, follow. 

of three syllables. ^i Resigned his former suit, i.e. 

^ Reft, torn away. gave up his former pursuit. 



BRITOMART. 99 

They after both, and boldly bade him base,^ 

And each did strive the other to outgo ; 

But he them both outran a wondrous space, 

For he was long, and swift as any roe. 

And now made better speed t' escape his feared foe. 

6 It was not Satyrane, whom he did fear, 
But Britomart, the flow'r of chastity ; 

For he the pow'r of chaste hands might not bear. 

But always did their dread encounter fly : 

And now so fast his feet he did apply, 

That he has gotten to a forest near. 

Where he is shrouded in security. 

The wood they enter, and search everywhere ; 

They searched diversely ; so both divided were. 

7 Fair Britomart so long him followed. 
That she at last came to a fountain sheer,^ 
By which there lay a knight all wallowed ^ 
Upon the grassy ground, and by him near 
His haberieon,* his helmet, and his spear : 
A little off, his shield was rudely thrown. 
On which the winged boy^ in colours clear 
Depeincted^ was, full easy to be known, 

And he thereby, wherever it in field was shown. 

8 His face upon the ground did grovelling lie. 
As if he had been slumb'ring in the shade ; 

1 Bade him base, i.e. began in * Haberieon, habergeon, coat of 

their turn to pursue the giant. mail, 

'^ Sheer, clear. ^ Winged boy, Cupid. 

3 lVa//o7ued, rolled about as in ^ Depeincted, depicted, por- 

mire. trayed. 



100 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

That^ the brave maid would not for courtesy 

Out of his quiet slumber him abrade,^ 

Nor seem too suddenly him to invade : 

Still as she stood, she heard with grievous throb 

Him groan, as if his heart were pieces made, 

And with most painful pangs to sigh and sob, 

That pity did the virgin's heart of patience rob. 

9 At last forth breaking into bitter plaints 

He said : " O sovereign Lord, that sit'st on high 
And reign'st in bliss amongst thy blessed saints, 
How suff 'rest thou such shameful cruelty. 
So long unwreaked ^ of thine enemy ! 
Or hast thou. Lord, of good men's cause no heed ? 
Or doth thy justice sleep and silent lie ? 
What booteth then the good and righteous deed, 
If goodness find no grace, nor righteousness no 
meed ! 

10 "If good find grace, and righteousness reward, 
Why then is Amoret in caytive* band, 
Sith that more bounteous^ creature never far'd^ 
On foot upon the face of living land ! 
Or if that heavenly justice may withstand 
The wrongful outrage of unrighteous men, 
Why then is Busyrane with wicked hand 
Suff 'red, these seven months day,''' in secret den 
My lady and my Love so cruelly to pen ? 

1 That, so that, for that reason, ^ Caytive, captive. 

2 Abrade, rouse. ^ Bounteous, virtuous. 

3 Unwreaked, unavenged. ^ Fared, walked. 

■^ Day, time. 



BRITOMART. 101 

1 1 " My lady and my love is cruelly penned 
In doleful darkness from the view of day, 
Whilst deadly torments do her chaste breast rend, 
And the sharp steel doth rive^ her heart in tway,^ — 
All for^ she Scudamore* will not denay.^ 

Yet thou, vile man, vile Scudamore, art sound, 
Ne canst her aid, ne canst her foe dismay ; 
Unworthy wretch to tread upon the ground. 
For whom so fair a lady feels so sore a wound." 

12 There an huge heap of singulfes^ did oppress 

His struggling soul, and swelling throbs empeach^ 
His falt'ring tongue with pangs of dreariness,^ 
Choking the remnant of his plaintife speech. 
As if his days were come to their last reach. 
Which when she heard, and saw the ghastly fit 
Threat'ning into his life to make a breach. 
Both with great ruth^ and terror she was smit. 
Fearing lest from her cage the weary soul would flit. 

1 3 Tho, stooping down, she him amoved light ; 
Who, therewith somewhat starting, up gan look. 
And seeing him behind a stranger knight, 

^ Rive, rend. bearing the Shield of Divine Love 

2 In tway, in two. (scudo d'amore) for their arms. 

3 For, because. Prof. Child. 

* Scudamore. It has seemed ^ Denay, deny, i.e. to prove false 

best to follow the original, and to. 

spell this name sometimes Scuda- ^ Singulfes, for singults, . sobs, 

more, and at other times Scuda- "^ Empeach, hinder, 

mour. — The family of Scudamore ^ Dreariness, sorrow, 

derived this surname from their ^ Ruth, pity. 



102 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Whereas no living creature he mistook,^ 

With great indignance he that sight forsook,^ 

And, down again himself disdainfully 

Abjecting,^ th' earth with his fair forehead strook: 

Which the bold virgin seeing, gan apply 

Fit med'cine to his grief, and spake thus courtesly * : 

14 "Ah ! gentle knight, whose deep-conceived^ grief 
Well seems t' exceed the pow'r of patience, 

Yet, if that heavenly grace some good relief 

You send, submit you to high Providence ; 

And ever in your noble heart prepense,^ 

That all the sorrow in the world is less 

Then virtue's might and value's' confidence : 

For who nill^ bide the burden of distress. 

Must not here think to live ; for life is wretchedness. 

1 5 " Therefore, fair sir, do comfort to you take, 
And freely read^ what wicked felon so 

Hath outraged you, and thralled ^^ your gentle make.^^ 

Perhaps this hand may help to ease your woe, 

And wreak your sorrow on your cruel foe ; 

At least it fair endeavour will apply." 

Those feeling words so i"^ar the quick did go. 

That up his head he reared easily : 

And, leaning on his elbow, these few words let fly : 

1 Whereas 710 living creature, etc., ^ Deep-conceived, deep-felt, 

where he wrongly supposed that ^ Prepetise, consider, 

there was no living creature. ' Value'' s, valor's. 

2 Forsook, turned from. ^ ^///^ will not. 

3 Abjecting, casting. ^ Read, explain. 

* Courtesly, courteously. ^'^ Thralled, enslaved. 

11 Make, mate. 



BRITOMART. 103 

1 6 "What boots it plain that cannot be redressed,^ 
And sow vain sorrow in a fruitless ear 2; 

Sith pow'r of hand, nor skill of learned breast, 
Ne worldly price, cannot redeem my dear 
Out of her thraldom and continual fear ! 
For he, the tyrant, which her hath in ward 
By strong enchantments and black magic lear,^ 
Hath in a dungeon deep her close embarred,* 
And many dreadful fiends hath pointed^ to her 
guard. 

17 "There he tormenteth her most terribly. 
And day and night afflicts with mortal pain. 
Because to yield him love she doth deny. 
Once to me yold,^ not to be yold again : 
But yet by torture he would her constrain 
Love to conceive in her disdainful breast ; 
Till so she do, she must in doole " remain, 
Ne may by living means be thence relest ^ : 

What boots it then to plain that cannot be re- 
dressed ! " 

18 With this sad hersaP of his heavy stress ^^ 
The warlike damsel was empassioned ^^ sore. 

And said : " Sir knight, your cause is nothing less 

^ What boots it plain of, etc., i.e. * Embarred, shut in. 

What is the use of complaining of ^ Pointed, appointed, 

what cannot be helped. 6 Yold, yielded. 

2 And sow vain sorrow, etc., i.e. "^ Doole, grief, 

and tell my sorrow to one who ^ Relest, released, 

cannot help me. 9 Hersal, rehearsal. 

^ Lear, lore. 10 Stress, distress. 
11 Evipassioned, moved. 



104 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Then is your sorrow, certes,^ if not more ; 

For nothing so much pity doth implore 

As gentle lady's helpless misery : 

But yet, if please ye listen to my lore,^ 

I will, with proof of last extremity,^ 

Deliver her fro thence, or with her for you die." 

19 "Ah! gentlest knight alive," said Scudamore, 
" What huge heroic magnanimity 

Dwells in thy bounteous breast ? what couldst thou 

more, 
If she were thine, and thou as now am I ? 
O spare thy happy days, and them apply 
To better boot * ; but let me die that ought ; 
More is more loss ; one is enough to die ! " 
" Life is not lost," said she, "for which is bought 
Endless renowm, that more then death is to be 

sought." 

20 Thus she at length persuaded him to rise. 
And with her wend to see what new success 
Mote ^ him befall upon new enterprize : 

His arms, which he had vowed to disprofess,^ 
She gathered up and did about him dress,^ 
And his forwandred ^ steed unto him got : 
So forth they both yfere ^ make their progress, 

1 Certes, certainly. ^ Mote, might. 

2 Lore, advice. ^ Disprofess, renounce. 
^ With proof of last extremity, "^ Dress, dispose. 

i.e. with a supreme effort. ^ Forwandred, strayed away. 

* Boot, advantage. ^ Yfere, together. 



RRlTOMARr. 105 

And march, not past the mountenance of a shot,^ 
■ Till they arrived whereas ^ their purpose they did 
plot. 

2 1 There they, dismounting, drew their weapons bold, 
And stoutly came unto the castle gate, 
Whereas no gate they found them to withhold, 
Nor ward ^ to wait at morn and evening late ; 

But in the porch, that did them sore amate,* 
A flaming fire ymixt with smouldry smoke 
And stinking sulphur, that with grisly ^ hate 
And dreadful horror did all entrance choke. 
Enforced them their forward footing to revoke.^ 

22 Greatly thereat was Britomart dismayed, 

Ne in that stownd ^ wist ^ how herself to bear ; 
For danger vain it were to have assayed 
That cruel element, which all things fear, 
Ne none can suffer to approachen near : 
And, turning back to Scudamour, thus said : 
" What monstrous enmity provoke we here ? 
Foolhardy as th' Earth's children,^ the which made 
Battle against the gods, so we a god invade. 

23 " Danger without discretion to attempt. 
Inglorious, beast-like, is : therefore, Sir Knight, 

1 The nioiuitenance of a shot, i.e. ^ Revoke, draw back, 
the distance of a bow-shot. ^ Stownd, exigency. 

2 Whereas, where. ^ Wist, knew. 

3 Ward, guard. ® 77/' Earth^s children, i.e. the 
* Aniate, daunt. Giants and the Titans, the off- 
^ Grisly, terrible. spring of Uranus and Ge (earth). 



106 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Aread ^ what course of you is safest dempt,^ 
And how we with our foe may come to fight." 
"This is," quoth he, "the dolorous despite,^ 
Which erst ^ to you I plained ^ : for neither may 
This fire be quenched by any wit or might, 
Ne yet by any means removed away ; 
So mighty be th' enchantments which the same do 
stay.^ 

24 " What is there else but cease these fruitless pains, 
And leave me to my former languishing ! 

Fair Amoret must dwell in wicked chains, 

And Scudamore here die with sorrowing ! " 

" Perdy,'' not so," said she; "for shameful thing 

It were t' abandon noble chevisance,^ 

For show of peril, without venturing : 

Rather, let try extremities of chance 

Then enterprised praise for dread to disavance."^ 

25 Therewith resolved to prove her utmost might, 
Her ample shield she threw before her face, 
And her sword's point directing forward right 
Assailed the flame ; the which eftsoons ^^ gave place, 
And did itself divide with equal space, 

That through she passed, as a thunderbolt 
Pierceth the yielding air, and doth displace 

1 Aread, declare. ^ Plained, lamented. 

2 Dempt, deemed. ^ Stay, maintain. 

3 Dolorous despite, grievous vex- "' Perdy, truly. 

ation. ^ Chevisancc, enterprise. 

•* Erst, first. '* Disavaiue, retreat from. 

1^ Eftsoons, immediately. 



BRITOMART. 107 

The soaring clouds into sad ^ show'rs ymolt 2; 
So to her yold^ the flames, and did their force 
revolt.* 

26 Whom whenas Scudamour saw past the fire 
Safe and untouched, he likewise gan assay 
With greedy will and envious desire, 

And bade the stubborn flames to yield him way : 
But cruel Mulciber ^ would not obey 
His threatful pride, but did the more augment 
His mighty rage, and with imperious sway 
Him forced, maulgre^ his fierceness, to relent, 
And back retire all scorched and pitifully brent J 

27 With huge impatience he inly swelt,^ 

More for great sorrow that he could not pass 
Then for the burning torment which he felt ; 
That with fell woodness ^ he effierced ^^ was, 
And, wilfully him throwing on the grass, 
Did beat and bounce his head and breast full sore : 
The whiles the championess now entered has 
The utmost ^^ room, and passed the foremost door ; 
The utmost room abounding with all precious store : 

28 For, round about, the walls yclothed were 
With goodly arras ^^ of great majesty, 

1 Sad, heavy. ^ Maulgre, in spite of. 

2 Ymolt, melted. 7 Brent, burned. 
« Yold, yielded. 8 Swelt, died. 

* Revolt, turn back. ^ Fell woodness, fierce madness. 

^ Mulciber, a surname given to '^^ Effierced, enraged. 

Vulcan, the god of fire who pre- ^^ Utmost, outermost, 

sided over the working of metals. 1^ Arras, tapestry. 



108 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Woven with gold and silk so close and near 
That the rich metal lurked privily, 
As feigning to be hid from envious ^ eye ; 
Yet here, and there, and everywhere, unwares, 
It showed itself and shone unwillingly ; 
Like to a discoloured ^ snake, whose hidden snares^ 
Through the green grass his long bright burnished 
back declares. 

29 And in those tapets * weren fashioned 
Many fair portraits, and many a fair feat ; 
And all of love, and all of lustyhed, ^ 

As seemed by their semblant,^ did entreat " : 
And eke^ all Cupid's wars they did repeat. 
And cruel battles, which he whilom ^ fought 
Gainst all the gods to make his empire great ; 
Besides the huge massacres, which he wrought 
On mighty kings and kesars^^ into thraldom brought. 

30 Ne ^1 did he spare (so cruel was the elf) 

His own dear mother, (ah ! why should he so ?) 
Ne did he spare sometime to prick himself. 
That he might taste the sweet consuming woe. 
Which he had wrought to many others moe.^^ 



vous 



1 Envious, malignant, mischie- ^ Sejnblant, appearance. 

"^ Entreat, treat. 

2 Discoloured, party-colored. ** Eke, also. 

3 Snares, i.e. coils. ^ Whilom, formerly. 
■* Tapets, tapestries. ^'^ Kesars, emperors. 
^ Lustyhed, lustfulness. ^^ Ne, nor. 

1- Moe, more. 



BRITOMART. 109 

31 Kings, queens, lords, ladies, knights, and damsels 

gent,i 
Were heaped together with the vulgar sort, 
And mingled with the rascal rabblement,^ 
Without respect of person or of port,*^ 
To show Dan ^ Cupid's pow'r and great effort : 
And round about a border was entrailed ^ 
Of broken bows and arrows shivered short ; 
And a long bloody river through them railed,^ 
So lively, and so like, that living sense it failed. *" 

32 And at the upper end of that fair rowme^ 
There was an altar built of precious stone 
Of passing^ value and of great renowme,^^ 
On which there stood an image all alone 

Of massy gold, which with his own light shone ; 
And wings it had with sundry colours dight,^^ 
More sundry colours then the proud pavone ^^ 
Bears in his boasted fan, or Iris ^'^ bright. 
When her discoloured bow she spreads through 
heaven's height. 

33 Blindfold he was ; and in his cruel fist 

A mortal ^^ bow and arrows keen did hold, 

1 Gent, noble. "^ Failed, deceived. 

2 Rascal rabhlenient, common ^ Rowme, room, 
rabble. ^ Passing, surpassing. 

3 Poi't, carriage, bearing. 10 Renowme, renown. 
* Dan, equivalent to master or ^ Dight, adorned. 

sir. 12 Pavone, peacock. 

^ Entrailed, entwined. is fris, the goddess of the rain- 

^ Railed, rolled. bow. 

*■* Mortal, death-giving. 



no THE FAERY QUEENE. 

With which he shot at random when him list,^ 
Some headed with sad ^ lead, some with pure gold ; 
(Ah ! man, beware how thou those darts behold !) 
A wounded dragon under him did lie. 
Whose hideous tail his left foot did enfold, 
And with a shaft was shot through either eye, 
That no man forth might draw, ne no man remedy. 

34 And underneath his feet was written thus : 
Unto the victor of the gods this be ; 

And all the people in that ample house 
Did to that image bow their humble knee, 
And oft committed foul idolatree. 
That wondrous sight fair Britomart amazed, 
Ne seeing could her wonder satisfy, 
But ever more and more upon it gazed. 
The whiles the passing brightness her frail senses 
dazed. 

35 Tho,^ as she backward cast her busy eye 
To search each secret of that goodly stead,* 
Over the door thus written she did spy : 
Be bold. She oft and oft it over read, 

Yet could not find what sense it figured : 

But whatso were therein or writ or meant. 

She was no whit thereby discouraged 

From prosecuting of her first intent, 

But forward with bold steps into the next room went. 

1 When him list, i.e. when he - Sad, heavy, 

desired. ^ Tho, then. 

4 Stead, place. 



BRITOMART. Ill 

36 Much fairer then the former was that room. 
And richlier, by many parts ^ arrayed ; 

For not with arras made in painful loom, 
But with pure gold, it all was overlaid, 
Wrought with wild antics ^ which their follies played 
In the rich metal, as they living were : 
A thousand monstrous forms therein were made. 
Such as false Love doth oft upon him wear ; 
For Love in thousand monstrous forms doth oft 
appear. 

37 And, all about, the glist'ring walls were hong 
With warlike spoils and with victorious praise 
Of mighty conquerors and captains strong. 
Which were whilom captived in their days 

To cruel Love, and wrought their own decays^: 
Their swerds ^ and spears were broke, and hauberks ^ 

rent, 
And their proud girlonds of triumphant bays 
Trodden in dust with fury insolent. 
To show the victor's might and merciless intent. 

38 The warlike maid, beholding earnestly 
The goodly ordinance ^ of this rich place, 
Did greatly wonder ; ne could satisfy 

Her greedy eyes with gazing a long space : 
But more she marvelled that no footing's trace 
Nor wight appeared, but wasteful emptiness 

1 By inaiiy parts, i.e. by many * Swe?'ds, swords, 
times. ^ Hauberks, coats of mail. 

2 Antics, fantastic figures. *^ Ordinance, orderly arrange- 
^ Decays, ruins. ment. 



112 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And solemn silence over all that place : 

Strange thing it seemed, that none was to possess 

So rich purveyance,^ ne them keep with carefulness. 

39 And, as she looked about, she did behold 
How over that same door was likewise writ. 
Be bold, Be bold, and everywhere, Be bold ; 
That much she mused, yet could not construe it 
By any riddling skill or common wit. 

At last she spied at that room's upper end 
Another iron door, on which was writ. 
Be not too bold ; whereto though she did bend 
Her earnest mind, yet wist^ not what it might 
intend. 

40 Thus she there waited until eventide, 
Yet living creature none she saw appear. 
And now sad ^ shadows gan the world to hide 
From mortal view, and wrap in darkness drear; 
Yet nould she d'off * her weary arms, for fear 
Of secret danger,- ne let sleep oppress 

Her heavy eyes with- nature's burden dear. 

But drew herself aside in sickerness,^ 

And her well pointed weapons did about her dress.^ 

1 Purveyance, furniture. * Nould she d'off, i.e. she would 

2 Wist, knew. not take off. 

3 Sad, heavy. ^ Sickerness, safety. 

^ Dress, dispose. 



VIII. 

Britomart "witnesses the Mask of Ctipid mid frees A?noret from the 
power of the enchanter. 

1 Tho, whenas cheerless night, ycovered had 
Fair heaven with an universal cloud, 

That 1 every wight dismayed with darkness sad ^ 

In silence and in sleep themselves did shroud, 

She heard a shrilling trumpet sound aloud, 

Sign of nigh battaill, or got victory : 

Nought therewith daunted was her courage proud. 

But rather stirred to cruel enmity. 

Expecting ever when some foe she might descry. 

2 With that, an hideous storm of wind arose. 
With dreadful thunder and lightning atwixt. 
And an earthquake, as if it straight would lose ^ 
The world's foundations from his centre fixed : 
A direful stench of smoke and sulphur mixed 
Ensued,* whose noyance ^ filled the fearful stead ^ 
From the fourth hour of night until the sixt ; 
Yet the bold Britoness was nought ydread," 
Though much emmoved,^ but steadfast still perse- 
vered. 

1 That, so that. ^ Noyance, annoyance. 

2 Sad, heavy. ^ Stead, place. 

3 Lose, loosen. " Ydread, terrified. 

* Ensued, followed. ^ Efnmoved, moved. 



114 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

3 All suddenly a stormy whirlwind blew 
Throughout the house, that clapped every door, 
With which that iron wicket open flew, 

As it with mighty levers had been tore ; 
And forth issued, as on the ready floor 
Of some theatre, a grave personage, 
That in his hand a branch of laurel bore. 
With comely haviour ^ and count'nance sage, 
Yclad in costly garments fit for tragic stage. 

4 Proceeding to the midst he still did stand, 
As if in mind he somewhat had to say ; 
And to the vulgar ^ beck'ning with his hand, 
In sign of silence, as to hear a play,^ 

By lively actions ^ he gan bewray ^ 
Some argument^ of matter passioned^ ; 
Which done, he back retired soft away. 
And, passing by, his name discovered. 
Ease, on his robe in golden letters cipher^d.^ 

5 The noble maid, still standing, all this viewed, 
And marvelled at his strange intendiment ^ : 
With that a joyous fellowship issued 

1 Ilaviojir, behavior. 

2 Vulgar, common people. ^ Actions, pronounced as a word 
2 As to hear a play. In Eliza- of three syllables. 

beth's time each act of a tragedy ^ Bewray, disclose. 

was usually preceded by a dumb ^ Argument, subject. 

show in which the argument of " Passioned, represented. 

the act was given. The play acted ^ Ciphered, written in occult 

before the king in Shakespeare's characters. 

" Hamlet " is preceded by a dumb ^ Intendiment, meaning. 

show. 



BRITOMART. 115 

Of minstrels making goodly merriment, 
With wanton bards, and rhymers impudent ; 
All which together sang full cheerfully 
A lay of love's delight with sweet concent ^ : 
After whom marched a jolly company, 
In manner of a mask,^ enranged ^ orderly. 

6 The whiles a most delicious harmony 

In full strange notes was sweetly heard to sound, 

That the rare sweetness of the melody 

The feeble senses wholly did confound. 

And the frail soul in deep delight nigh drowned : 

And, when it ceased, shrill trumpets loud did bray. 

That their report did far away rebound ; 

And, when they ceased, it gan again to play. 

The whiles the maskers marched forth in trim array. 

7 The first was Fancy,* like a lovely boy 
Of rare aspect and beauty without peer, 
Matchable either to that imp ^ of Troy, 

Whom Jove did love and chose his cup to bear^; 
Or that same dainty lad, which was so dear 
To great Alcides," that, whenas he died. 
He wailed womanlike with many a tear. 
And every wood and every valley wide 
He filled with Hylas' name; the nymphs eke^ 
" Hylas " cried. 

* Fancy, capricious love. 

1 Concent, harmony. ^ /;///, child, youth. 

^ Mask, a dramatic and musical ^ That imp of Troy, etc., Gany- 

production, such as Milton's mede. 
" Comus." "^ Alcides, Hercules. 

3 Enranged, arranged. ^ Eke, likewise. 



116 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

8 His garment nether was of silk nor say,^ 
But painted plumes in goodly order dight,^ 
Like as the sunburnt Indians do array 
Their tawny bodies, in their proudest plight : 

As those same plumes, so seemed he vain and light. 

That by his gait might easily appear ; 

For still he fared ^ as dancing in delight. 

And in his hand a windy fan did bear, 

That in the idle air he moved, still here and there. 

9 And him beside marched amorous Desire, 
Who seemed of riper years than th' other swain, 
Yet was that other swain this elder's sire. 

And gave him being, common to them twain : 

His garment was disguised very vain. 

And his embrodered bonnet^ sat awry : 

Twixt both his hands few sparks he close ^ did 

strain. 
Which still he blew and kindled busily, 
That soon they life conceived, and forth in flames 

did fly. 

10 Next after him went Doubt, who was yclad 
In a discoloured ^ coat of strange disguise. 
That at his back a broad capuccio ^ had. 
And sleeves dependant ^ Albanese-wise ^ ; 
He looked askew with his mistrustful eyes, 

1 Say, satin. ' ^ Discoloured, party-colored. 

2 Dig/it, disposed. "^ Capuccio, hood. 

3 Fared, passed along. ^ Dependant, hanging down. 

4 Bonnet, cap. ^ Albanesc-zvise, Albanian fash- 
^ Close, secretly. ion. 



BRITOMART. 117 

And nicely ^ trod, as thorns lay in his way, 
Or that the floor to shrink he did avise ^ ; 
And on a broken reed he still did stay 
His feeble steps, which shrunk when hard thereon 
he lay. 

1 1 With him went Danger, clothed in ragged weed ^ 
Made of bear's skin, that him more dreadful made ; 
Yet his own face was dreadful, ne did need 
Strange * horror to deform his grisly ^ shade : 

A net in th' one hand, and a rusty blade 
In th' other was ; this mischief, that mishap ; 
With th' one his foes he threatened. to invade. 
With th' other he his friends meant to enwrap^ : 
For whom he could not kill he practised ^ to entrap. 

12 Next him was Fear, all armed from top to toe, 
Yet thought himself not safe enough thereby, 
But feared each shadow moving to or fro ; 
And, his own arms when glittering he did spy 
Or clashing heard, he fast away did fly. 

As ashes pale of hue, and winged heeled ; 
And evermore on Danger fixed his eye. 
Gainst whom he always bent a brazen shield, 
Which his right hand unarmed fearfully^ did wield. 

13 With him went Hope in rank, a handsome maid, 
Of cheerful look and lovely to behold ; 

1 Nicely, carefully. ^ Grisly, dreadful. 

2 Avise, perceive. ^ Enwrap, involve in difficulty. 
^ Weed, garment. "^ Practised, plotted. 

* Strange, foreign, or borrowed. ^ Fearfully, with fear. 



118 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

In silken samite ^ she was light arrayed, 
And her fair locks were woven up in gold : 
She always smiled, and in her hand did hold 
An holy-water-sprinkle, dipt in deowe,^ 
With which she sprinkled favours manifold 
On whom she list, and did great liking sheowe,^ 
Great liking unto many, but true love to feowe.* 

14 And after them Dissemblance^ and Suspect^ 
Marched in one rank, yet an unequal pair ; 
For she was gentle and of mild aspect. 
Courteous to all and seeming debonair,'' 
Goodly adorned and exceeding fair ; 

Yet was that all but painted and purloined, 

And her bright brows were decked with borrowed 

hair ; 
Her deeds were forged, and her words false coined, 
And always in her hand two clews ^ of silk she 

twined : 

1 5 But he was foul, ill favoured, and grim. 
Under his eyebrows looking still ^ askance ; 
And ever, as Dissemblance laughed on him, 
He low'red on her with dangerous eye-glance, 
Showing his nature in his countenance ; 

His rolling eyes did never rest in place, 

1 Samite, silk stuff sometimes ^ Dissemblance, dissimulation, 
inwrought with gold. 6 Suspect, suspicion. 

2 Deowe, dew. "^ Debonair, gracious. 
^ Sheowe,^o\i. ^ Clews, \>2X\s,. 

* Feowe, few. ^ Still, always. 



BRITOMART. 119 

But walked ^ each where for fear of hid mischance, 
Holding a lattice still before his face, 
Through which he still did peep as forward he did 
pace. 

1 6 Next him went Grief and Fury matched yfere^ ; 
Grief all in sable sorrowfully clad, 

Down hanging his dull head with heavy cheer,^ 
Yet inly being more then seeming sad : 
A pair of pincers in his hand he had, 
With which he pinched people to the heart, 
That from thenceforth a wretched life they lad,* 
In wilful languor and consuming smart. 
Dying each day with inward wounds of dolour's 
dart. 

17 But Fury was full ill apparalled 

In rags, that naked nigh she did appear, 
With ghastly looks and dreadful drearihead ^ ; 
For from her back her garments she did tear, 
And from her head oft rent her snarled hair : 
In her right hand a firebrand she did toss 
About her head, still roaming here and there ; 
As a dismayed deer in chase embossed,^ 
Forgetful of his safety, hath his right way lost. 

18 After them went Displeasure and Pleasance''; 
He looking lumpish ^ and full sullen sad, 

1 Walked^ rolled. ^ Drea7-ihead, sorrow. 

2 Yfere, together. ^ Embossed, hard pressed. 
'"^ Cheer, coutenance. "^ Pleasance, pleasure. 

^ Lad, led. ^ Uunpish, heavy, melancholy. 



120 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And hanging down his heavy countenance ; 

She cheerful, fresh, and full of joyance glad, 

As if no sorrow she ne felt ne drad ^ ; 

That evil matched pair they seemed to be : 

An angry wasp th' one in a vial had, 

Th* other in hers an honey-laden bee. 

Thus marched these six couples forth in fair degree.^ 

19 After all these there marched a most fair dame,^ 
Led of two grysie* villeins^; th' one Despite,^ 
The other cleped '' Cruelty by name : 

She doleful lady, like a dreary sprite 

Called by strong charms out of eternal night, 

Had death's own image figured in her face, 

Full of sad signs, fearful to living sight ; 

Yet in that horror showed a seemly grace. 

And with her feeble feet did move a comely pace. 

20 Her breast all naked, as net ^ ivory 
Without adorn of gold or silver bright 
Wherewith the craftsman wonts it beautify,^ 
Of her due honour was despoiled quite ; 
And a wide wound therein (O rueful sight !) 
Entrenched deep with knife accursed keen, 
Yet freshly bleeding forth her fainting sprite,^^ 

1 Drad, dreaded. ^ Despite, malice, spite. 

2 Degree, step. ' Cleped, called. 

3 A most fair dame, i.e. Amoret, ^ Net, pure. 

the wife of Scudamore. ^ JVonts it beautify, i.e. is accus- 

* Grysie, squalid. tomed to beautify it. 

^ Villeins, base-born or inferior i'' Sprite, spirit. 

persons. 



BRITOMART. 121 

(The work of cruel hand) was to be seen, 

That dyed in sanguine ^ red her skin all snowy clean : 

21 At that wide orifice her trembling heart 
Was drawn forth, and in silver basin laid, 
Quite through transfixed with a deadly dart, 
And in her blood yet steaming fresh embayed.^ 
And those two villeins which her steps upstayed, 
When her weak feet could scarcely her sustain, 
And fading vital powers gan to fade, 

Her forward still with torture did constrain, 
And evermore increased her consuming pain. 

22 Next after her, the winged god^ himself 
Came riding on a lion ravenous, 
Taught to obey the menage ^ of that elf 
That man and beast with pow'r imperious 
Subdueth to his kingdom tyrannous : 

His blindfold eyes he bade awhile unbind. 
That his proud spoil of that same dolorous 
Fair dame he might behold in perfect kind ^ ; 
Which seen, he much rejoiced in his cruel mind. 

23 Of which full proud, himself uprearing high. 
He looked round about with stern disdain, 
And did survey his goodly company ; 

And, marshalling the evil-ordered train. 

With that the darts which his right hand did strain 

1 Sanguine, the color of blood. * Menage, manege, horseman- 

2 Embayed, bathed. ship. 

8 Winged god, Cupid. ^ In perfect kind, i.e. w'lihT^&xiect 

distinctness. 



122 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Full dreadfully he shook, that all did quake, 
And clapped on high his coloured winges twain, 
That all his many ^ it afraid did make : 
Tho, blinding him again, his way he forth did 
take. 

24 Behind him was Reproach, Repentance, Shame ; 
Reproach the first. Shame next. Repent behind : 
Repentance feeble, sorrowful, and lame ; 
Reproach despiteful, careless, and unkind ; 
Shame most ill-favoured, bestial, and blind : 
Shame low'red. Repentance sighed. Reproach did 

scold ; 
Reproach sharp stings. Repentance whips entwined. 
Shame burning brond-irons in her hands did hold : 
All three to each unlike, yet all made in one 

mould. 

25 And after them a rude confused rout 

Of persons flocked, whose names is hard to read ^ : 
Amongst them was stern Strife ; and Anger 

stout 2 ; 
Unquiet Care; and fond Unthriftyhead* ; 
Lewd Loss of Time ; and Sorrow seeming dead ; 
Inconstant Change ; and false Disloyality ; 
Consuming Riotise ^ ; and guilty Dread 
Of heavenly vengeance ; faint Infirmity ; 
Vile Poverty ; and, lastly, Death with infamy. 

1 Many, company. * Fond Unthrifty head, foolish 

- Read, tell. thriftlessness. 

^ Stout, dauntless. ^ Riotise, riotousness. 



BRITOMART. 123 

26 There were full many moe ^ like maladies, 
Whose names and natures I note readen ^ well ; 
So many moe, as there be fantasies 

In wavering women's wit, that none can tell. 

Or pains in love, or punishments in hell : 

All which, disguised, marched in masking-wise 

About the chamber by the damosel ; 

And then returned, having marched thrise, 

Into the inner room from whence they first did rise.^ 

27 So soon as they were in, the door straightway 
Fast locked, driven with that stormy blast 
Which first it opened, and bore all away. 

Then the brave maid, which all this while was plast ^ 

In secret shade, and saw both first and last, 

Issued forth and went unto the door 

To enter in, but found it locked fast : 

In vain she thought with rigorous uproar 

For to efforce,^ when charms had closed it afore. 

28 Where force might not avail, there sleights and art 
She cast ^ to use, both fit for hard emprise *" : 
Forthy ^ from that same room not to depart 

Till morrow next she did herself avise,^ 
When that same mask again should forth arise. 
The morrow next appeared with joyous cheer. 
Calling men to their daily exercise : 

^ Moe, more. ^ Efforce, force. 

2 Note readeji, cannot tell. ^ Cast, planned. 

* Rise, come forth. " Emprise, undertaking. 

* Plast, placed. ^ Earthy, therefore. 

^ Avise, bethink. 



124 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Then she, as morrow fresh, herself did rear 
Out of her secret stand that day for to outwear.^ 

29 All that day she outwore m wandering 
And gazing on that chamber's ornament, 
Till that again the second evening 

Her covered with her sable vestiment, 
Wherewith the world's fair beauty she hath blent ^ : 
Then, when the second watch ^ was almost past. 
That brazen door flew open, and in went 
Bold Britomart, as she had late forecast,* 
Neither of idle shows nor of false charms aghast. 

30 So soon as she was entered, round about 
She cast her eyes to see what was become 
Of all those persons which she saw without. 

But lo ! they straight were vanished all and some^ ; 
Ne living wight she saw in all that room. 
Save that same woful lady ; both whose hands 
Were bounden fast, that did her ill become,^ 
And her small waist girt round with iron bands 
Unto a brazen pillar, by the which she stands. 

3 r And, her before, the vile enchanter sate, 
Figuring strange characters of his art ; 
With livino: blood he those characters wrate,^ 



1 Outwear, pass. ^ All and some, i.e. one and all. 

2 Blent, obscured. ^ That did her ill become, i.e. 

3 The second watch began at such treatment was unworthy of 
nme and ended at twelve. her. 

^ Forecast, previously deter- "^ Wrate, wrote, 
mined 



BRITOMART. 125 

Dreadfully dropping from her dying heart, 
Seeming transfixed with a cruel dart ; 
And all perforce to make her him to love. 
Ah ! who can love the worker of her smart ! 
A thousand charms he formerly did prove ^ ; 
Yet thousand charms could not her steadfast heart 
remove. 

32 Soon as that virgin knight he saw in place, 
His wicked books in haste he overthrew, 
Not caring his long labours to deface 2; 
And, fiercely running to that lady true, 

A murd'rous knife out of his pocket drew. 

The which he thought, for villainous despite, 

In her tormented body to imbrue ^ : 

But the stout * damsel, to him leaping light, 

His cursed hand witheld, and maistered his might. 

33 From her, to whom his fury first he meant, 
The wicked weapon rashly he did wrest,^ 
And, turning to herself^ his fell intent, 
Unwares it strooke into her snowy chest. 
That little drops empurpled her fair breast. 
Exceeding wroth therewith the virgin grew, 
Albe ^ the wound were nothing deep impressed, 
And fiercely forth her mortal blade she drew, 

To give him the reward for such vile outrage due. 

1 Did prove, made trial of. * Stout, valiant, undaunted. 

2 Not caring, etc., i.e. not caring ^ Rashly he did wrest, quickly 
for the fact that he might destroy he turned aside. 

the result of his long labors. ^ Herself, i.e. Britomart. 

8 Imbrue, moisten. "^ Albe, although. 



126 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

34 So mightily she smote him, that to ground 

He fell half dead ; next stroke him should have slain, 
Had not the lady, which by him stood bound, 
Dernly ^ unto her called to abstain 
From doing him to die ^ ; for else her pain 
Should be remediless ; sith^ none but he 
Which wrought it could the same recure again. 
Therewith she stayed her hand, loath stayed to be ; 
For life she him envied,^ and longed revenge to see : 

35 And to him said : "Thou wicked man, whose meed 
For so huge mischief and vile villainy 

Is death, or if that ought do death exceed ; 
Be sure that nought may save thee from to die 
But if ^ that thou this dame do presently 
Restore unto her health and former state ; 
This do, and live ; else die undoubtedly." 
He, glad of life, that looked for death but late. 
Did yield himself right willing to prolong his date : 

36 And, rising up, gan straight to overlook^ 
Those cursed leaves, his charms back to reverse. 
Full dreadful things out of that baleful book 
He read, and measured many a sad '' verse. 
That horror gan the virgin's heart to perse,^ 
And her fair locks up stared ^ stiff on end. 
Hearing him those same bloody lines rehearse ; 

1 Dernly, sadly. ^ But if, unless. 

2 Doing him to die, causing him ^ Overlook, look over. 

to die. ■^ Sad, i.e. of great import. 

^ Sith, since. '^ Perse, pierce. 

* Envied, grudged. • ^ Up stared, stood up. 



BRITOMART. 127 

And, all the while he read, she did extend 

Her swordhigh over him, if ought he did offend.^ 

37 Anon she gan perceive the house to quake, 
And all the doors to rattle round about-; 
Yet all that did not her dismayed make, 

Nor slack her threatful hand for danger's doubt, ^ 
But still with steadfast eye and courage stout 
Abode, to weet ^ what end would come of all : 
At last that mighty chain, which round about 
Her * tender waist was wound, adown gan fall. 
And that great brazen pillar broke in pieces small. 

38 The cruel steel, which thrilled^ her dying heart. 
Fell softly forth, as of his own accord ; 

And the wide wound, which lately did dispart ^ 
Her bleeding breast and riven bowels gored. 
Was closed up, as it had not been bored ; 
And every part to safety full sound. 
As she were never hurt, was soon restored : 
Tho,'' when she felt herself to be unbound 
And perfect whole, prostrate she fell unto the 
ground ; 

39 Before fair Britomart she fell prostrate. 
Saying : " Ah ! noble knight, what worthy meed 
Can wretched lady, quit from woful state. 
Yield you in lieu of this your gracious deed ? 

1 If ought he did offe7id, i.e. in * Her ; this refers, of course, to 

case he should do any harm. the lady, Amoret. 

'^ Danger'' s doubt, apprehension ^ Thrilled, pierced, 

of danger. ^ Dispart, divide. 

3 Weet, know. "^ Tho, then. 



128 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Your virtue self her own reward shall breed, 
Even immortal praise and glory wide, 
Which I, your vassal, by your prowess freed. 
Shall through the world make to be notified,^ 
And goodly well advance that goodly well was 
tried." 2 

40 But Britomart uprearing her from ground. 
Said : " Gentle dame, reward enough I ween,^ 
For many labours more then I have found, 
This, that in safety now I have you seen. 
And mean * of your deliverance have been :* 
Henceforth, fair lady, comfort to you take. 
And put away remembrance of late teen ^ ; 
Instead thereof, know that your loving make^ 
Hath no less grief endured for your gentle sake." 

41 She much was cheered to hear him mentioned,^ 
Whom of all living wights she loved best. 
Then laid the noble championess strong bond ^ 
Upon th* enchanter which had her distressed 
So sore, and with foul outrages oppressed : 
With that great chain, wherewith not long ygoe 
He bound that piteous lady prisoner now relest, 
Himself she bound, more worthy to be so. 

And captive with her led to wretchedness and woe. 

1 A^otified, proclaimed. * Mean, means. 

2 And goodly well advance, etc., ^ Teen, sorrow. 
i.e. arid do my best to extol the ^ Make, mate. 

valor which was so well tried. 7J/<?;///^;/£v/; the second syllable 

3 Ween, think. pronounced as two syllables. 

^ Hond, hand. 



BRITOMART. 129 

42 Returning back, those goodly rooms, which erst ^ 
She saw so rich and royally arrayed. 

Now vanished utterly and clean subversed^ 
She found, and all their glory quite decayed,^ 
That sight of such a change her much dismayed. 
Thenceforth, descending to that perlous * porch, 
Those dreadful flames she also found delayed ^ 
And quenched quite, like a consumed torch, 
That erst all ent'rers wont so cruelly to scorch. 

43 More easy issue now then entrance late 

She found ; for now that feign^d^ dreadful flame, 
Which choked the porch of that enchanted gate 
And passage barred to all that thither came. 
Was vanished quite, as it were not the same. 
And gave her leave at pleasure forth to pass. 
Th' enchanter self, which all that fraud did frame 
To have efforced ^ the love of that fair lass. 
Seeing his work now wasted, deep engrieved was. 

44 But when the victoress arrived there 
Where late she left the pensife Scudamore 
With her own trusty squire, both full of fear. 
Neither of them she found where she them lore^ : 
Thereat her noble heart was 'stonished sore ; 
But most fair Amoret, whose gentle sprite ^ 
Now gan to feed on hope, which she before 

1 Erst, first. 6 Feigned, i.e. not real, but pro- 

2 Stibversed, overturned. duced by magic. 

* Decayed, destroyed. '^ Efforced, forced. 

* Perlous, perilous. 8 Lore, left. 

5 Delayed, abated. * Sprite, spirit. 



130 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Conceived had, to see her own dear knight, 

Being thereof beguiled, was filled with new affright. 

45 But he, sad man, when he had long in dread 
Awaited there for Britomart's return, 
Yet saw her not, nor sign of her good speed, 
His expectation to despair did turn. 
Misdeeming 1 sure that her those flames did burn; 
And therefore gan advise with her old squire. 
Who her dear nursling's loss no less did mourn, 
Thence to depart for further aid t' enquire : 
Where let them wend at will, whilst here I do respire. 

1 Misdeeming, mistakenly judging. 



IX. 



During an adventure at a castle, Anioret learns that her deliverer is 
a woman. The maidens soon after meet Paridell and Blandamour, and 
their companions, Duessa and Ate. Later, Scudamoicr and Glauc^ come 
upon the scene. 

1 Of lovers' sad calamities of old 
Full many piteous stories do remain, 
But none more piteous ever was ytold 
Then that of Amoret's heart-binding chain, 
And this of Florimell's unworthy pain : 
The dear compassion of whose bitter fit ^ 
My softened heart so sorely doth constrain, 
That I with tears full oft do pity it, 

And oftentimes do wish it never had been writ. 

2 For, from the time that Scudamour her bought ^ 
In perilous fight, she never joyed day; 

A perilous fight ! when he with force her brought 
From twenty knights that did him all assay ^ ; 
Yet fairly well he did them all dismay,* 
And with great glory both the shield of love 
^ And eke the lady self he brought away^; 
Whom having wedded, as did him behoove, 
A new unknowen mischief did from him remove. 

1 Fit, stroke, misfortune. ^ And with great glory, etc. In 

2 Bought, ransomed. Book IV, Canto X, the poet des- 

3 Assay, assail. cribes the shield of love and tells 
^Dismay, overpower. how Scudamore won Amoret. 



132 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

3 For that same vile enchanter Busyran, 

The very self same day that she was wedded, 
Amidst the bridal feast, whilst every man 
Surcharged with wine were heedless and ill-headed. 

Brought in that Mask of Love which late was 

showen ; 
And there the lady ill of friends bestedded,^ 
By way of sport, as oft in masks is knowen, 
Conveyed quite away to living wight unknowen. 

4 Seven months he so her kept in bitter smart. 

Until such time as noble Britomart 
Released her, that else was like to sterve^ 
Through cruel knife that her dear heart did kerve ^ ; 
And now she is with her upon the way 
Marching in lovely ^ wise, that could deserve 
No spot of blame, though spite did oft assay 
To blot her ^ with dishonour of so fair a prey. 

5 Yet should it be a pleasant tale, to tell 
The diverse usage, and demeanour daint,^ 
That each to other made, as oft befell : 
For Amoret right fearful was and faint,*^ 



"^ Bestedded, assisted. "^ For Amoret right fearful, etc. 

2 Sterve, die. Amoret knew that she owed every- 

* Kerve, carve, cut. thing to Britomart whom she sup- 

* Lovely, affectionate. posed, of course, to be a man. She 
s Her, i.e. Britomart. feared that her deliverer might 
^ Demeanour daiut, delicate con- desire her love. 



duct. 



BKITOMART. 133 

That every word did tremble as she spake, 
And every look was coy and wondrous quaint, ^ 
And every limb that touched her^ did quake ; 
Yet could she not but courteous countenance to 
her make. 

6 For well she ^ wist, as true it was indeed. 
That her life's lord and patron of her health* 
Right well deserved, as his dueful meed. 
Her love, her service, and her utmost wealth : 
All is his justly that all freely deal'th.^ 



Thereto her fear was made so much the greater, 
Through fine abusion '^ of that Briton maid *" ; 
Who, for to hide her feigned sex the better 
And mask her wounded mind,^ both did and said 
Full many things so doubtful to be weighed, 
That well she wist not what by them to guess : 



8 It so befell one evening that they came 
Unto a castle, lodged there to be. 
Where many a knight, and many a lovely dame. 
Was then assembled deeds of arms to see : 



1 ^z^aw/, nice, reserved. ^ DeaPth, dealeth ; distributes, 

2 Her, i.e. Britomart. gives. 

^ She, i.e. Amoret. ^ Abusion, deception. 

•* Pat f on of her health, defender '^ Briton maid, i.e. Britomart. 

of her safety, ^ Her wonnded mind, i.e. 

wounded from love of Artegall. 



134 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Amongst all which was none more fair then she,^ 
That many of them moved to eye her sore. 



It was the custom at this castle to allow those knights only to enter 
who were accompanied by ladies. 

9 Amongst the rest there was a jolly ^ knight, 
Who, being asked for his love, avowed 
That fairest Amoret was his by right. 
And off 'red that to justify ^ aloud. 
The warlike virgin, seeing his so proud 
And boastful challenge,^ wexed ^ inly wroth. 
But for the present did her anger shroud ; 
And said, her love to lose she was full loath, 
But either he should neither of them have, or 
both. 



lo So forth they went, and both together jousted ; 
But that same younker^ soon was overthown, 
And made repent that he had rashly lusted 
For thing unlawful that was not his own : 
Yet since he seemed valiant, though unknown. 
She, that no less was courteous then stout,^ 
Cast how to salve,^ that both the custom shown 



1 She, i.e. Amoret. " Stout, brave. 

'^ Jolly, handsome. ^ Cast how to salve, planned how 

"^Justify, prove. to secure, to arrange. 

^ Challejige, claim. ^ Shown, published ; i.e. the cus- 

5 IVexed, waxed, became. tom that no knight might enter the 

6 Younkcr, stripling. castle unless he had a lady-love. 



BKJTOMART. 135 

Were kept, and yet that knight not locked out ; 
That seemed full hard t' accord two things so far in 
doubt. 1 

1 1 The seneschal ^ was called to deem ^ the right ; 
Whom she required, that first fair Amoret 
Might be to her allowed, as to a knight 

That did her win and free from challenge set : 
Which straight to her was yielded without let* : 
Then, since that strange knight's love from him 

was quitted,^ 
She claimed that to herself, as lady's debt, 
He as a knight might justly be admitted; 
So none should be out shut, sith all of loves were 

fitted. 

12 With that, her glist'ring helmet she unlaced ; 
Which doft, her golden locks, that were upbound 
Still ^ in a knot, unto her heels down traced,^ 
And like a silken veil in compass ^ round 
About her back and all her body wound : 

Like as the shining sky in summer's night. 
What time the days with scorching heat abound. 
Is crested all with lines of fi'ry light, 
That it prodigious seems in common people's sight. 

1 So far in doubt ; a peculiar '^ Deem, judge, 
expression which seems to mean, * Let, hindrance, opposition. 
so difficult to reco7icile. ^ Quitted, taken. 

2 Seneschal, an officer who had ^ Still, always. 

the superintendence of feasts and "' Dowti traced, i.e. fell down, 

domestic ceremonies ; a steward. ^ /;/ cotnpass, in a circle. 



136 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

13 Such, when those knights and ladies all about 
Beheld her, all were with amazement smit. 
And every one gan grow in secret doubt 

Of this and that, according to each wit ^ : 

Some thought that some enchantment feigned it 2; 

Some, that Bellona^ in that warlike wise 

To them appeared, with shield and armour fit ; 

Some, that it was a mask of strange disguise : 

So diversely each one did sundry doubts devise. 

14 But that young knight, which through her gentle 

deed 
Was to that goodly fellowship restored, 
Ten thousand thanks did yield her for her meed, 
And, doubly overcommen, her adored : 
So did they all their former strife accord ; 



When the time for rest came, the two girls sought their couch, — 

15 Where all that night they of their loves did treat, 
And hard adventures, twixt themselves alone, 
That each the other gan with passion ^ great 
And grieful pity privately bemoan. 
The morrow next, so soon as Titan ^ shone, 
They both uprose and to their ways them dight^ : 
Long wand' red they, yet never met with none 

1 According to each wit, i.e. ^ Bellona, the goddess of war. 

each had his own way of interpret- ■♦ Passion, suffering, sorrow, 

ing the wonder. ^ Titan, Hyperion, the sun-god. 

'^Feigned it, i.e. produced it ^ To their ways t/ient dig/it, xndidQ 

as an illusion. ready to start on their way. 



BRITOMART. 137 

That to their wills could them direct aright, 
Or to them tidings tell that mote their hearts 
delight. 

i6 Lo ! thus they rode, till at the last they spied 
Two armed knights, that toward them did pace,^ 
And each of them had riding by his side 
A lady, seeming in so far a space ^ ; 
But ladies none they were, albe in face 
And outward show fair semblance they did bear ; 
For under mask of beauty and good grace 
Vile treason and foul falsehood hidden were, 
That mote ^ to none but to the wary wise appear. 

17 The one of them the false Duessa^ hight,^ 
That now had changed her former wonted hue^; 
For she could don so many shapes in sight. 

As ever could chameleon colours new ; 

So could she forge all colours, save the true : 

The other no whit better was then she. 

But that, such as she was, she plain did shew ; 

Yet otherwise much worse, if worse might be. 

And daily more offensive unto each degree.'^ 

18 Her name was Ate,^ mother of debate 
And all dissension which doth daily grow 

1 Pace, step. in the first book of the Faery 

2 A lady seeming, etc., i.e. at Queene, representing falsehood, 
that distance she seemed to be a ^ Hight, was called. 

lady. 6 Htig^ form, appearance. 

2 Mote, might. ' Unto each degree, i.e. to people 

* Duessa, a character portrayed of all kinds, high and low. 
8 Ate, goddess of discord. 



138 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Amongst frail men, that many a public state 
And many a private oft doth overthrow. 
Her false Duessa, who full well did know 
To be most fit to trouble noble knights 
Which hunt for honour, raised from below 
Out of the dwellings of the damned sprites. 
Where she in darkness wastes her cursed days and 
nights. 

19 Hard by the gates of hell her dwelling is; 

There, whereas ^ all the plagues and harms abound 
Which punish wicked men that walk amiss : 
It is a darksome delve ^ far under ground. 
With thorns and barren brakes environed round. 
That none the same may easily out-win ^ ; 
Yet many ways to enter may be found. 
But none to issue forth when one is in : 
For discord harder is to end then to begin. 

20 And all within, the riven * walls were hung 
With ragged monuments of times forepast,^ 
All which the sad effects of discord sung : 

There were rent robes and broken sceptres plast^; 
Altars defiled, and holy things defast ^ ; 
Disshivered ^ spears and shields ytorn in twain ; 
Great cities ransacked, and strong castles rast ^ ; 
Nations captived, and huge armies slain : 
Of all which ruins there some relics did remain. 

1 Whereas, where. ° Plast, placed. 

2 Delve, dell. '' Defast, defaced. 

^ Out-witt, get out of. ^ /^/jj/zzV^r^^, shivered in pieces. 

* Riven, rent, broken. * Rast, rased, razed, levelled 

^ Forecast, bygone. with the ground. 



BRirOMART. 139 

21 Her mate, he was a jolly ^ youthful knight, 
That bore great sway in arms and chivalr)^, 
And was indeed a man of mickle ^ might ; 
His name was Blandamour,^ that did descry* 
His fickle mind full of inconstancy : 

And now himself he fitted had right well 
With two companions of like quality, 
Faithless Duessa, and false Paridell, 
That whether^ were more false, full hard it is to 
tell. 

22 Now when this gallant with his goodly crew 
From far espied the famous Britomart, 
Like knight adventurous in outward view. 
With his fair paragon,^ his conquest's part,^ 
Approaching nigh ; eftsoones ^ his wanton heart 
Was tickled with delight, and jesting said : 

" Lo ! there, Sir Paridell, for your desart,^ 
Good luck presents you with yon lovely maid, 
For pity that ye want a fellow for your aid." 

23. By that the lovely pair drew nigh to hond ^^ : 
Whom whenas Paridell more plain beheld, 
Albe ^^ in heart he like affection fond,^^ 



'^ Jolly, handsome. "^ His conquest^ s part, i.e. the 
2 Mickle, great. prize gained by conquest. 

^ Blanda7tiour, i.e. flattering, de- ^ Eftsoones, immediately, 

ceitful love. ^ Desart, desert, reward. 

^ Descry, denote. ^0 Hond, hand. 

^ Whether, which of the two. 1^ Albe, although. 

^ Paragon, companion. ^'^ Fond, found. 



140 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Yet mindful how he late by one was felled ^ 

That (;Jid those arms and that same scutcheon weld,^ 

He had small lust ^ to buy his love so dear, 

But answered : " Sir, him wise I never held, 

That, having once escaped peril near, 

Would afterwards afresh the sleeping evil rear.* 

24 " This knight too late his manhood and his might 
I did assay, that me right dearly cost ; 

Ne list I ^ for revenge provoke new fight, 
Ne for light lady's love, that soon is lost." 
The hot-spur^ youth " so scorning to be crossed, 
"Take then to you this dame of mine," quoth he, 
" And I, without your peril or your cost, 
Will challenge^ yond same other for my fee."^ 
So forth he fiercely pricked,^^ that one him scarce 
could see. 

25 The warlike Britoness her soon addressed,^^ 
And with such uncouth ^"^ welcome did receive 
Her fained paramour, ^^ her forced guest. 
That, being forced his saddle soon to leave, 

1 Yet mindful Jioiv he late by one ^ Ne list /, i.e. nor do I desire. 
was felled. Paridell was over- ^ Hot-spur, headstrong. 

come by Britomart when they strug- " The hot-spur youth, i.e. Blanda- 

gled together before Malbecco's mour. 

Castle. The poet seems to have ^ Challenge, claim. 

forgotten the fact that Paridell ^ Fee, property. 

discovered later, when Britomart ^'^ Pricked, rode, using spurs. 

doffed her helmet, that the daunt- ^^ Her soon addressed, soon vadide 

less knight was a woman. ready. 

2 Weld, wield. 12 Uncouth, strange, unexpected. 
^ Lust, desire. ^^ Her fained paramoiir, i.e. the 
* Reary rouse. would-be lover. 



BRITOMART. 141 

Himself he did of his new love deceive ^ ; 

And made himself th' ensample of his folly. 

Which done, she passed forth, not taking leave, 

And left him now as sad as whilom ^ jolly, 

Well warned to beware with whom he dared to dally. 

26 Which when his other company beheld, 
They to his succour ran with ready aid ; 
And, finding him unable once to weld,^ 
They reared him on horse-back and upstayed, 
Till on his way they had him forth conveyed : 
And all the way, with wondrous grief of mind 
And shame, he showed himself to be dismayed 
More for the love which he had left behind. 
Then that which he had to Sir Paridell resigned. 

27 Nathless* he forth did march, well as he might. 
And made good semblance to his company. 
Dissembling his disease and evil plight ; 

Till that ere long they chanced to espy 
Two other knights, that towards them did ply 
With speedy course, as bent to charge them new : 
Whom when as Blandamour approaching nigh 
Perceived to be such as they seemed in view, 
He was full woe,^ and gan his former grief renew. 

28 For th' one of them he perfectly descried 
To be Sir Scudamour, (by that he bore 
The god of love with wings displayed wide,) 

1 Deceive, deprive. ^ Weld, turn, move. 

2 Whilom, formerly. * N'athless, nevertheless. 

s Woe, sad. 



142 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Whom mortally he hated evermore, 
Both for his worth, that all men did adore, 
And eke ^ because his love he won by right : 
Which when he thought, it grieved him full 

sore, 
That, through the bruises of his former fight, 
He now unable was to wreak ^ his old despite.^ 

29 Forthy ^ he thus to Paridell bespake : 

" Fair Sir, of friendship let me now you pray. 
That as I late adventured ^ for your sake, 
The hurts whereof me now from battle stay, 
Ye will me now with like good turn repay, 
And justify^ my cause on yonder knight." 
"Ah! Sir," said Paridell, "do not dismay 
Yourself for this ; myself will for you fight, 
As ye have done for me : The left hand rubs the 
right." 7 

30 With that he put his spurs unto bis steed, 
With spear in rest, and toward him did fare, 
Like shaft out of a bow preventing ^ speed. 
But Scudamour was shortly well aware 

Of his approach, and gan himself prepare 
Him to receive with entertainment meet. 
So furiously they met, that either bare 



1 Eke, also. ^ Adventured, ran the risk of, 

2 Wreak, revenge. ^ Jtistify, vindicate. 

3 Despite, malice. ' The left hand, etc^ i-e. one 
* Forthy, therefore. good turn deserves another. 

8 Preventing, coming before, surpassing. 



BRITOMART. 143 

The other down under their horses' feet, 
That what of them became themselves did scarsly 
weet.i 

3 1 As when two billows in the Irish sounds, 
Forcibly driven with contrary tides, 

Do meet together, each aback rebounds 

With roaring rage ; and dashing on all sides, 

That filleth all the sea with foam, divides 

The doubtful current into divers ^ ways : 

So fell those two in spite of both their prides ; 

But Scudamour himself did soon upraise. 

And, mounting light, his foe for lying long upbrays^ : 

32 Who, rolled on an heap, lay still in swound,* 
All careless of his taunt and bitter rail ^ ; 
Till that the rest, him seeing lie on ground, 
Ran hastily, to weet what did him ail : 
Where finding that the breath gan him to fail, 
With busy care they strove him to awake. 
And doft his helmet, and undid his mail : 

So much they did, that at the last they brake 
His slumber, yet so mazed that he nothing spake. 

33 Which whenas Blandamour beheld, he said: 
''False faitour^ Scudamour, that hast by sleight 
And foul advantage this good knight dismayed, 
A knight much better then thyself behight,' 

^ Weet, know. * Swoiaid, swoon. 

2 Divers, diverse, opposite. ^ Rail, railing. 

3 Upbrays, upbraids. ^ False faitoiir, false doer, traitor. 

'* Behight, reputed. 



144 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Well falls it thee that I am not in plight,^ 
This day, to wreak the damage by thee done ! 
Such is thy wont, that still when any knight 
Is weak'ned, then thou dost him overrun : 
So hast thou to thyself false honour often won." 

34 He little answered, but in manly heart 
His mighty indignation did forbear ; 
Which was not yet so secret, but some part 
Thereof did in his frowning face appear: 
Like as a gloomy cloud, the which doth bear 
An hideous storm, is by the northern blast 
Quite overblown, yet doth not pass so clear 
But that it all the sky doth overcast 

With darkness dread, and threatens all the world to 
waste. 

35 '^ Ah ! gentle knight," then false Duessa said, 
" Why do ye strive for ladies' love so sore, 
Whose chief desire is love and friendly aid 
Mongst gentle knights to nourish ever more ! 
Ne 2 be ye wroth Sir Scudamour, therefore, 
That she your love list ^ love another knight, 
Ne do yourself dislike a whit the more ; 

For love is free, and led with self-delight, 

Ne will enforced be with maisterdome * or might." 

36 So false Duessa : but vile Ate thus : \ 
" Both foolish knights, I can but laugh at both, 

1 Well falls it thee, etc., i.e. it is 2 /^r^^ nor. 

well for you that I am not in ^ List, likes to, chooses to. 

condition. ■* Maisterdo7ne, rule, mastery. 



BRITOMART. 145 

That strive and storm with stir outrageous, 
For her, that each of you alike doth loth,^ 
And loves another, with whom now she goth 
In lovely wise, ...... 

Whilst both you here with many a cursed oath 

Swear she is yours, and stir up bloody frays. 

To win a willow bough, whilst other wears the bays." ^ 

37 "Vile hag," said Scudamour, "why dost thou lie. 
And falsely seekst a virtuous wight to shame } " 
" Fond^ knight," said she, "the thing that with this 

eye 
I saw, why should I doubt ^ to tell the same } " 
" Then tell," quoth Blandamour, " and fear no blame ; 
Tell what thou saw'st, maulgre whoso it hears." ^ 



Ate then told how she had seen a strange knight making love to 
Amoret. She did not know his name, but in his shield he bore the 
heads of many broken spears. " And," the hag went on, " I saw him 
kiss ; I saw him her embrace." 

38 

Which when as Scudamour did hear, his heart 
Was thrilled with inward grief ; as when in chase 
The Parthian strikes a stag with shivering dart, 
The beast astonished stands in middest of his smart^; 

1 Loth, loathe. 3 Fond, foolish. 

2 To win a willow bough, etc. * Doubt, fear. 

The willow was the sign of the for- ^ Maulgre whoso it hears, i.e. no 

saken lover ; the bay was worn by matter who hears it. 

victors. Britomart, of course, ap- ^ /„ middest of, etc., i.e. in the 

pears to be Amoret's lover and her midst of his pain. 

true knight. 



146 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

39 So stood Sir Scudamour when this he heard, 
Ne word he had to speak for great dismay, 
But looked on Glauce grim,^ who woxe ^ afeared 
Of outrage for the words which she heard say, 
Albe ^ untrue she wist ^ them by assay. ^ 

But Blandamour, whenas he did espy 
His change of cheer ^ that anguish did bewray," 
He woxe full blithe, as he had got thereby,^ 
And gan thereat to triumph without victory. 

40 " Lo ! recreant," said he, "the fruitless end 
Of thy vain boast, and spoil of love misgotten. 
Whereby the name of knighthood thou dost shend,^ 
And all true lovers with dishonour blotten^^: 

All things not rooted well will soon be rotten." 
" Fie, fie, false knight," then false Duessa cried, 
" Unworthy life, that love with guile hast gotten ; 
Be thou, wherever thou do go ^^ or ride, 
Loathed of ladies all, and of all knights defied ! " 

41 But Scudamour, for passing ^^ great despite, 
Stayed not to answer ; scarcely did refrain 
But that in all those knights' and ladies' sight 
He for revenge had guiltless Glauc^ slain : 

^ But looked on Gland grim ^ Cheer, appearance, counte- 

{^grim refers of course to Scuda- nance, 

mour). For some reason, Glauce "^ Bewray, betray, 

does not choose to reveal the truth ^ As he had got thereby, as 

about Britomart. though he had gained by this. 

2 Woxe, grew, became. ^ Shend, disgrace. 

3 Albe, although. 10 Blotteji, stain. 

4 Wist, knew. 11 Go, walk. 

^ Assay, experience, knowledge. ^^ Passing, surpassing. 



BKITOMART. 147 

But, being past, he thus began amain ^ ; 
" False traitor squire,^ false squire of falsest knight, 
Why doth mine hand from thine avenge ^ abstain. 
Whose lord hath done my love this foul despite ! 
Why do I not it wreak * on thee now in my might ! 

42 " Discourteous, disloyal Britomart, 
Untrue to God, and unto man unjust ! 
What vengeance due can equal thy desart,^ 

Let ugly shame and endless infamy 
Colour thy name with foul reproaches' rust : 
Yet thou, false squire, his fault shalt dear aby,^ 
And with thy punishment his penance shalt supply." 

43 The aged dame, him seeing so enraged. 

Was dead with fear ; nathless " as need required 

His flaniing fury sought to have assuaged 

With sober words, that sufferance ^ desired 

Till time the trial of her truth expired ^ ; 

And evermore sought Britomart to clear: 

But he the more with furious rage was fired, 

And thrice his hand to kill her did uprear. 

And thrice he drew it back : so did at last forbear. 

1 Amain, violently. ^ Desart, desert. 

2 False traitor squire, i.e. Q\2i\xzh. ^ A by, pay for. 

^ From thine avenge, i.e. from "^ Nathless, nevertheless, 

taking vengeance upon thee. ^ Sufferance, patience. 

* Wreak, avenge. ^ Expired, discovered. 



X. 

Satyrane institutes a tournament. Artegall appears on the scene. 
Britomart is declared victor in the jousts. 

Sir Satyrane, the knight whom Britomart met at the castle of Mal- 
becco in company with Paridell, had by some means come into possesion 
of the magic girdle belonging to fair Florimell, a lady noted for her 
beauty. The knight appointed a time and place for a tournament, 
declaring that the victor should be rewarded by the hand of the fairest 
lady present, and that she, as the queen of beauty, should receive the 
magic girdle. Among others, Paridell and Blandamour with their com- 
panions — among whom was the cowardly Braggadochio — decided to 
enter the lists. 

1 .... . .... 

at length upon th' appointed day 
Unto the place of tournament they came ; 
Where they before them found in fresh array 
Many a brave knight and many a dainty dame 
Assembled for to get the honor of that game. 

2 There this fair crew arriving did divide 
Themselves asunder : Blandamour with those 
Of his on th' one, the rest on th' other side. 
But boastful Braggadochio rather chose, 
For glory vain, their fellowship to lose, 
That men on him the more might gaze alone. 
The rest themselves in troops did else dispose. 
Like as it seemed best to every one ; 

The knights in couples marched with ladies linked 
attone.^ 

1 Attone, together. 



BRITOMART. 149 

3 Then first of all forth came Sir Satyrane, 
Bearing that precious relic in an ark 

Of gold, that bad eyes might it not profane ; 

Which drawing softly forth out of the dark, 

He open showed, that all men it mote mark ; 

A gorgeous girdle, curiously embossed 

With pearl and precious stone, worth many a mark ^ ; 

Yet did the workmanship far pass the cost : 

It was the same which lately Florimell had lost. 

4 That same aloft he hong in open view, 
To be the prize of beauty and of might ; 
The which, eftsoones,^ discovered, to it drew 
The eyes of all, allured with close ^ delight, 
And hearts quite robbed with so glorious sight. 
That all men threw out vows and wishes vain. 
Thrice happy lady, and thrice happy knight, 
Them seemed, that could so goodly riches gain, 
So worthy of the peril, worthy of the pain. 

5 Then took the bold Sir Satyrane in hand 

An huge great spear, such as he wont to wield, 
And vauncing * forth from all the other band 
Of knights, addressed his maiden-headed shield. 
Showing himself all ready for the field : 
Gainst whom there singled from the other side 
A paynim ^ knight that well in arms was skilled, 

1 Mark, a coin formerly current "^ Eftsooncs, immediately, 

in England and Scotland, equal to ^ Close, secret, 

thirteen shillings and four pence. ^ Vattncing, advancing. 

^ Payiiim, pagan, infidel. 



150 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And had in many a battle oft been tried, 
Hight^ Bruncheval the bold, who fiercely forth did 
ride. 

6 So furiously they both together met. 

That neither could the other's force sustain : 
As two fierce bulls, that strive the rule to get 
Of all the herd, meet with so hideous main,^ 
That both rebutted tumble on the plain ; 
So these two champions to the ground were felled ; 
Where in a maze they both did long remain, 
And in their hands their idle truncheons held. 
Which neither able were to wag,^ or once to weld.'* 

7 Which when the noble Ferramont espied, 
He pricked^ forth in aid of Satyran ; 
And him against Sir Blandamour did ride 
With all the strength and stiffness that he can ; 
But the more strong and stiffly that he ran. 

So much more sorely to the ground he fell. 
That on an heap were tumbled horse and man : 
Unto whose rescue forth rode Paridell ; 
But him likewise with that same spear he eke ^ did 
quell. 

8 Which Braggadochio seeing had no will 
To hasten greatly to his party's aid, 

Albe"^ his turn were next ; but stood there still, 

1 Night, called. 4 ly^ij^ wield. 

2 Main, force. ^ Pricked, rode, using spurs. 
2 Wag, move. ^ Eke, also. 

■^ Albe^ although. 



BRITOMART. 151 

As one that seemed doubtful or dismayed : 
But Triamond, half wroth to see him stayed, 
Sternly stept forth and raught ^ away his spear, 
With which so sore he Ferramont assayed,^ 
That horse and man to ground he quite did bear, 
That neither could in haste themselves again uprear. 

9 Which to avenge Sir Devon him did dight,^ 
But with no better fortune then the rest ; 
For him likewise he quickly down did smite : 
And after him Sir Douglas him addressed * ; 
And after him Sir Palimord forth pressed ; 
But none of them against his strokes could stand ; 
But, all the more,^ the more his praise increst ^ : 
For either they were left upon the land,"^ 
Or went away sore wounded of his hapless hand. 

10 And now by this Sir Satyran abraid^ 

Out of the swoon, in which too long he lay ; 

And looking round about, like one dismayed, 

Whenas he saw the merciless affray ^ 

Which doughty Triamond had wrought that day 

Unto the noble knights of Maidenhead, 

His mighty heart did almost rend in tway ^^ 

For very gall,^i that rather wholly dead 

Himself he wished have been then in so bad a stead. ^^ 

1 Raught, snatched. ^ Increst, increased. 

2 Assayed, i.e. attacked. '^ Land, ground. 

3 Him did dight, i.e. prepared ^ Abraid, awoke, 
himself. ^ Affray, assault. 

^ Him addressed, i.e. made him- ^"^ In tway, in two. 

self ready. ^1 Gall, bitterness, impatient 

^ But, all the more, i.e. the more anger, 

there were of them, ^2 stead, situation. 



152 THE FAERY QUEENE, 

1 1 Eftsoones he gan to gather up around 

His weapons which lay scattered all abrode,^ 
And, as it fell,^ his steed he ready found : 
On whom remounting, fiercely forth he rode, 
Like spark of fire that from the anvil glode,^ 
There where he saw the valiant Triamond 
Chasing, and laying on them heavy load. 
That none his force were able to withstond ; 
So dreadful were his strokes, so deadly Was his 
hond. 

12 With that, at him his beamlike spear he aimed. 
And thereto all his power and might applied : 
The wicked steel for mischief first ordained. 
And having now misfortune got for guide. 
Stayed not till it arrived in his side. 

And therein made a very grisly* wound. 
That streams of blood his armour all bedyed. 
Much was he daunted with that direful stound,^ 
That scarce he him upheld from falling in a swound. 

13 Yet, as he might, himself he soft withdrew 
Out of the field, that none perceived it plain : 
Then gan the part ^ of challengers anew 

To range the field, and victorlike to reign. 
That none against them battle durst maintain. 
By that the gloomy evening on them fell. 
That forced them from fighting to refrain, 

1 Abrode, abroad. ■* Grisly, horrible. 

2 As it fell, as it happened. s Stound ; here means stunning 
* Glode, glanced. blow. 

^ Part, party. 



BKITOMAKr. 153 

And trumpets' sound to cease did them compel : 
So Satyrane that day was judged to bear the bell.^ 

14 The morrow next the tourney gan anew ; 
And with the first the hardy Satyrane 
Appeared in place, with all his noble crew : 
On th' other side full many a warlike swain 
Assembled were, that glorious prize to gain. 
But 'mongst them all was not Sir Triamond ; 
Unable he new battle to darrain,^ 
Through grievance of his late received wound, 
That doubly did him grieve when so himself he 

found : 

1 5 Which Cambell seeing, though he could not salve,^ 
Ne done undo,* yet, for to salve his name 

And purchase honour in his friend's behalve, 
This goodly counterfesance ^ he did frame : 
The shield and arms, well known to be the same 
Which Triamond had worn, un wares to wight ^ 
And to his friend unwist,^ for doubt ^ of blame 
If he misdid,^ he on himself did dight,^'^ 
That none could him discern ; and so went forth to 
fight. 

1 Bear the bell ; this meant to ^ Coimterfesance, here, disguise 
bear away the bell as a prize in a ^ Unwai-es to wight, unbeknown 
race ; and hence to win in any- to any one. 

thing, to be superior. "^ Umvist, unbeknown, 

2 Darrain, wage. ^ Doubt, fear. 

3 Salve, save, help. ^ Misdid, did amiss. 
* N'e do7te undo, i.e. nor undo ^'^ Dight, i.e. put on. 

what had been done. 



154 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

1 6 There Satyrane lord of the field he found, 
Triumphing in great joy and jollity ; 

Gainst whom none able was to stand on ground : 

That much he gan his glory to envy,^ 

And cast 2 t' avenge his friend's indignity : 

A mighty spear eftsoohes at him he bent ; 

Who, seeing him come on so furiously, 

Met him mid-way with equal hardiment,^ 

That forcibly to ground they both together went. 

17 They up again themselves can* lightly rear, 
And to their tried swords themselves betake ; 
With which they wrought such wondrous marvels 

there, 
That all the rest it did amazed make, 
Ne any dared their peril to partake ; 
Now cuffing close, now chasing to and fro. 
Now hurtling ^ round advantage for to take : 
As two wild boars together grappling go, 
Chaufing and foaming choler each against his foe. 

18 So as they coursed, and tourneyed here and there, 
It chanced Sir Satyrane his steed at last. 
Whether through found'ring or through sudden fear. 
To stumble,^ that his rider nigh he cast ; 

Which vantage Cambell did pursue so fast. 
That, ere himself he had recovered well, 

1 His glory to envy, i.e. he felt * Can, gan, i.e. did. 

a grudge against him on account 5 //urtling, skirmishing. 

of his glory. 6 /( chanced Sir Satyrane his 

- Cast, planned. steed, etc., i.e. it chanced that Sir 

3 Hardiment, boldness. Satyrane' s steed at last stumbled. 



BRJTOMART. 155 

So sore he soused him ^ on the compassed ^ crest, 
That forced him to leave his lofty sell,^ 
And rudely tumbling down under his horse' feet 
fell. 



19 Lightly Cambello leapt down from his steed, 
For to have rent his shield and arms away. 
That whilom wont to be the victor's meed ; 
When all unwares he felt an hideous sway 
Of many swords that load on him did lay : 
An hundred knights had him enclosed round, 
To rescue Satyrane out of his prey * ; 

All which at once huge strokes on him did pound, 
In hope to take him prisoner, where he stood on 
ground. 

20 He with their multitude was nought dismayed, 
But with stout courage turned upon them all, 
And with his brond-iron ^ round about him laid ; 
Of which he dealt large alms, as did befall : 
Like as a lion, that by chance doth fall 

Into the hunters' toil, doth rage and roar, 
In royal heart disdaining to be thrall : 
But all in vain : for what might one do more ? 
They have him taken captive, though it grieve him 
sore. 



1 He soused hitn, i.e. Cambell ^ Sell, saddle. 

struck Satyrane. * Oict 0/ his prey, i.e. out of his 

2 Compassed, rounded. power. 

^ Brond-iron, brand-iron, sword. 



156 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

2 1 Whereof when news to Triamond was brought 
There as he lay, his wound he soon forgot, 
And starting up straight for his armour sought : 
In vain he sought ; for there he found it not ; 
Cambello it away before had got : 
Cambello's arms therefore he on him threw. 
And lightly issued forth to take his lot.^ 
There he in troop found all that warlike crew 
Leading his friend away, full sorry to his view.^ 

22 Into the thickest of that knightly preasse^ 

He thrust, and smote down all that was between, 
Carried with fervent zeal ; ne did he cease. 
Till that he came where he had Cambell seen 
Like captive thrall two other knights atween : 
There he amongst them cruel havoc makes, 
That they which led him soon enforced been 
To let him loose to save their proper stakes * ; 
Who, being freed, from one a weapon fiercely takes. 

23 With that he drives at them with dreadful might. 
Both in remembrance of his friend's late harm, 
And in revengement of his own despite : 

So both together give a new alarm. 

As it but now the battle waxed warm. 

As when two greedy wolves do break by force 

Into an herd, far from the husband farm,^ 

1 To take his lot, i.e. to try his * To save their proper stakes, i.e. 
fortune. to secure their own safety. 

2 Full sorry to his view, i.e. a ^ Husband fartn, i.e. the hus- 
sorry sight to him. bandman's farm. 

3 Preasse, press. 



BRITOMART. 157 

They spoil and ravine ^ without all remorse ; 
So did these two through all the field their foes 
enforce.^ 

24 Fiercely they followed on their bold emprise,^ 
Till trumpet's sound did warn them all to rest : 
Then all with one consent did yield the prize 
To Triamond and Cambell as the best : 

But Triamond to Cambell it relest,* 
And Cambell it to Triamond transferred ; 
Each labouring t' advance the other's gest,^ 
And make his praise before his own preferred : 
So that the doom^ was to another day deferred. 

25 The last day came ; when all those knights again 
Assembled were their deeds of arms to show. 
Full many deeds that day were showed plain : 
But Satyrane, bove all the other crew, 

His wondrous worth declared in all men's view ; 

For from the first he to the last endured : 

And though some while fortune from him withdrew, 

Yet evermore his honour he recured," 

And with unwearied pow'r his party still assured.^ 

26 Ne was there knight that ever thought of arms, 
But that his utmost prowess there made knowen : 
That, by their many wounds and careless harms,^ 

1 Ravine, plunder. ^ Doom, decision. 

2 Enforce, i.e. drive before them. ' Recured, recovered. 

3 Emprise, enterprise. ^ Assured, secured. 

* Relest, released, let go. ^ Careless harms, uncared for 

^ Gest, achievement. " hurts. 



158 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

By shivered spears and swords all under ^ strowen, 
By scattered shields, was easy to be showen. 
There might ye see loose steeds at random run, 
Whose luckless riders late were overthrowen ; 
And squires make haste to help their lords fordone ^ : 
But still the knights of Maidenhead^ the better won.* 

27 Till that there ent'red on the other side 

A stranger knight, from whence no man could read,^ 
In quaint^ disguise, full hard to be descried^ : 
For all his armour was like salvage ^ weed 
With woody moss bedight,^ and all his steed 
With oaken leaves attrapped,^^ that seemed fit 
For salvage wight, and thereto well agreed 
His word,^^ which on his ragged shield was writ, 
Salvagesse sans finesse}'^ showing secret wit. 

28 He, at the first incoming, charged his spear 
At him that first appeared in his sight ; 
That was to weet the stout ^^ Sir Sangliere, 
Who well was known to be a valiant knight, 
Approved oft in many a perlous ^'^ fight : 

1 Under, i.e. on the ground. Salvage has the meaning of the 

2 Fordone, defeated. French sauvage rathet than of our 

* The knights of Maidenhead, savage. Salvage knight means 
i.e. the knights owing allegiance to wild knight, knight of the woods. 
Gloriana, the Faery Queen. ^ Bedight, bedecked. 

4 The better won, i.e. came off 1° Aft rapped, adorned, 

victors. ^^ Word, motto. 

* Read, tell. ^"^ Salvagesse sans fijiesse, wild- 
6 Quaint, ingenious. ness without art. 

" Descried, made out. ^^ Stoid, brave, dauntless. 

8 Salvage weed, wild dress. ^^ Perlous, perilous. 



BRITOMART. 159 

Him at the first encounter down he smote, 
And overbore beyond his crouper quite ; 
And after him another knight, that bote ^ 
Sir Brianor, so sore, that none him life behote.^ 

29 Then, ere his hand he reared, he overthrew 
Seven knights, one after other, as they came : 
And, when his spear was brust,^ his sword he 

drew. 
The instrument of wrath, and with the same 
Fared ^ like a lion in his bloody game. 
Hewing and slashing shields and helmets bright, 
And beating down whatever nigh him came. 
That every one gan shun his dreadful sight 
No less than death itself, in dangerous affright, 

30 Much wond'red all men what or whence he 

came. 
That did amongst the troops so tyrannise ; 
And each of other gan inquire his name : 
But, when they could not learn it by no wise, 
Most answerable to his wild disguise 
It seemed, him to term the salvage knight 
But certes^ his right name was otherwise. 
Though known to few that Arthegall ^ he hight,^ 
The doughtiest knight that lived that day, and most 

of might. 

^ Certesy truly. 

1 Hote, was named. ^ Arthegall, or Artegall, the 

2 Bekote, promised. knight whose image Britomart 
2 Bj'tisf, broken. had seen in the magic mirror. 

* Fared, went. "^ Hight, was called. 



160 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

31 Thus was Sir Satyrane with all his band 
By his sole manhood and achievement stout 
Dismayed, that none of them in field durst stand, 
But beaten were and chased all about. 

So he continued all that day throughout, 
Till evening that the sun gan downward bend : 
Then rushed forth out of the thickest rout 
A stranger knight, that did his glory shend ^ : 
So nought may be esteemed happy till the end ! 

32 He at his entrance charged his pow'rful spear 
At Artegall, in middest of his pride. 

And therewith smote him on his umbriere^ 
So sore, that, tumbling back, he down did slide 
Over his horse's tail above a stride ; 
Whence little lust^ he had to rise again. 
Which Cambell seeing, much the same envied.^ 
And ran at him ^ with all his might and main ; 
But shortly was likewise seen lying on the plain. 

33 Whereat full inly wroth was Triamond, 

And cast ^ t' avenge the shame done to his friend 
But by his friend himself eke soon he fond^ 
In no less need of help then him he weened.^ 
All which when Blandamour from end to end ^ 



1 Shend, shame. ^ Cast, planned. 

2 Umbriere, visor. "^ Fond, found. 

^ Lust, desire. ^ Then hitfi he weened, than he 

* The same envied, i.e. was whom he thought in need of it. 

sorely vexed on account of the ^ From end to end, i.e. from be- 

circumstance. gining to end. 
5 Him, i.e. the stranger knight. 



BRITOMART. 161 

Beheld, he woxe ^ therewith displeased sore, 
And thought in mind it shortly to amend : 
His spear he feutered,^ and at him it bore ; 
But with no better fortune then the rest afore. 

34 Full many others at him likewise ran ; 
But all of them likewise dismounted were : 
Ne certes wonder ^ ; for no pow'r of man 
Could bide the force of that enchanted spear. 
The which this famous Britomart did bear ; 
With which she wondrous deeds of arms achieved, 
And overthrew whatever came her near, 

That all those stranger knights full sore agrieved, 
And that late weaker band of challengers relieved. 

35 Like as in summer's day, when raging heat 
Doth burn the earth and boiled rivers dry. 
That all brute beasts, forced to refrain fro meat,^ 
Do hunt for shade where shrouded they may lie, 
And, missing it, fain from themselves to fly ^ ; 
All travellers tormented are with pain : 

A wat'ry cloud doth overcast the sky. 
And poureth forth a sudden show'r of rain. 
That all the wretched world recomforteth again : 

36 So did the warlike Britomart restore 

The prize to knights of Maidenhead that day, 

1 Woxe, became. * Meat, food. 

2 Feiitered, put in rest. ^ Fain from themselves to fly ; 
^ Ne certes wonder, i.e. and cer- meaning doubtful. Prof. Child 

tainly, no wonder. suggests, — act as if they would (?). 



162 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Which else was like to have been lost,^ and bore 
The praise of prowess from them all away. 
Then shrilling trumpets loudly gan to bray, 
And bade them leave their labours and long toil 
To joyous feast and other gentle play/'^ 
Where beauty's prize should win that precious 

spoil ^ : 
Where I with sound of trump will also rest awhile. 

1 Like to have been lost. Artegall ^ piay, amusement, 

was disguised so that no one recog- ^ That precious spoil, i.e. Flori- 

nized him as one of the knights of mell's girdle. 
Maidenhead. 



XI. 



The girdle is given to the false Floriinell. Scudamour spends the 
night in the house of Care. 

1 It hath been through all ages ever seen, 
That with the praise of arms and chivalry 
The prize of beauty still hath joined been ; 
And that for reason's special privity ^ ; 
For either doth on other much rely : 

For he me seems most fit the fair to serve, 
That can her best defend from villainy ; 
And she most fit his service doth deserve. 
That fairest is, and from her faith will never 
swerve. 

2 So fitly now here cometh next in place. 
After the proof of prowess ended well. 

The controverse^ of beauty's sovereign grace ; 
In which, to her that doth the most excel, 
Shall fall the girdle of fair Florimell ; 
That many wish to win for glory vain, 
And not for virtuous use, which some do tell 
That glorious belt, did in itself contain, 
Which ladies ought to love, and seek for to 
obtain. 

"^ For reason^ s special privity; means for a special and particular 
a peculiar phrase which probably reason. 

2 Cofitroverse, controversy. 



164 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

After telling how Vulcan made this precious ornament for his wife, 
Venus, " When first he loved her with heart entire," the poet goes on : — 

3 That goodly belt was Cestus hight by name, 
And as her life by her ^ esteemed dear : 

No wonder then, if that to win the same 
So many ladies sought, as shall appear ; 
For peerless she was thought that it did bear. 
And now by this their feast all being ended, 
The judges, which thereto selected were, 
Into the Martian field ^ adown descended 
To deem ^ this doubtful case, for which they all 
contended. 

4 But first was question made, which of those knights 
That lately tourneyed had the wager won : 

There was it judged, by those worthy wights, 

That Satyrane the first day best had done : 

For he last ended, having first begun. 

The second was to Triamond behight,^ 

For that he saved the victor from fordonne ^ : 

For Cambell victor was, in all men's sight. 

Till by mishap he in his foemen's hand did light. 

5 The third day's prize unto that stranger knight, 
Whom all men termed knight of the hebene ^ spear, 

1 Her, i.e. Florimell, the right- 
ful owner of the belt. ^ Hebene, yew. It has been 

2 Martian field, the Campus supposed that hebene meant ebony. 
Martius, field of battle. Dr. Brinsley Nicholson has, how- 

3 Deem, judge. ever, proved conclusively that this 
* Behight, adjudged. word stands for yew. Hebenon, 
^ Saved the victor from for- supposed to signify henbane, has 

donne, i.e. saved the victor from the same meaning, 
ruin. 



BRITOMART. 165 

To Britomart, was given by good right ; 
^For that with puissant stroke she down did bear 
The salvage ^ knight that victor was whilere,^ 
And all the rest which had the best afore, 
And, to the last, unconquered did appear ; 
For last is deemed best : to her therefore 
The fairest lady was adjudged for paramour/^ 

3 But thereat greatly grudged * Arthegall, 
And much repined, that both of victor's meed 
And eke of honor she did him forestall : 
Yet mote he not withstand what was decreed ; 
But inly thought of that despiteful ^ deed 
Fit time t' await avenged for to be. 
This being ended thus, and all agreed, 
Then next ensued the paragon to see 
Of beauty's praise, and yield the fairest her due 
fee. 

7 Then first Cambello brought into their view 
His fair Cambina covered with a veale^; 
Which, being once withdrawn, most perfect hue 
And passing'' beauty did eftsoones reveal, 
That able was weak hearts away to steal. 
Next did Sir Triamond unto their sight 
The face of his dear Canacee unheale ^ ; 
Whose beauty's beam eftsoones did shine so bright. 
That dazed the eyes of all, as with exceeding light. 

^ Salvage, wild, woodland. 5 Despiteful, vexatious, hateful. 

2 Whilere, before. 6 y^ale, veil. 

^ Paramour, sweetheart. "^ Passing, surpassing. 

* Grudged, felt great vexation. ^ Unheale, uncover. 



166 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

8 And after her did Paridell produce 

His false Duessa, that she might be seen ; 
Who with her forged beauty did seduce 
The hearts of some that fairest did her ween ; 
-As diverse wits affected divers been.^ 
Then did Sir Ferramont unto them show 
His Lucida, that was full fair and sheen ^ : 
And after these an hundred ladies moe^ 
Appeared in place, the which each other did outgo.^ 

9 All which whoso dare think for to enchase,^ 
Him needeth sure a golden pen I ween 

To tell the feature^ of each goodly face. 

For, since the day that they created been, 

So many heavenly faces were not seen 

Assembled in one place : ne he that thought ' 

For Chian^ folk to pourtraict^ beauty's queen, 

By view of all the fairest to him brought. 

So many fair did see, as here he might have sought. 

lo At last, the most redoubted Britoness 
Her lovely Amoret did open show ; 
Whose face, discovered, plainly did express 

1 As diverse wits, etc., i.e. as ^ Feature, appearance, 
different minds are affected in dif- '' A^e he that thought, etc. An 
ferent ways. allusion to the well-known picture 

2 Sheen, radiant. of Apelles of Cos. Prof. Child. 

3 7I/t7^, more. The Venus Anadyomene was 
^ The 7vhich each other did outgo, Apelles' best picture. 

i.e. each of whom seemed to sur- » Chian, of or pertaining to the 

pass the others. island of Chios (now Scio) in the 

^ Enchase, set forth, describe. ^gean sea. 

^ Pourtraict, portray. 



BRITOMART 167 

The heavenly portraict of bright angel's hue. 
Well weened all, which her that time did view, 
That she should surely bear the bell away ^ ; 
Till Blandamour, who thought he had the true 
And very Florimell,^ did her display : 
The sight of whom once seen did all the rest 
dismay.^ 

1 1 For all afore that seemed fair and bright. 
Now base and contemptible did appear. 
Compared to her that shone as Phoebe's ^ light 
Amongst the lesser stars in evening clear. 
All that her saw with wonder ravished were. 
And weened no mortal creature she should be, 
But some celestial shape that flesh did bear : 
Yet all were glad there Florimell to see ; 

Yet thought that Florimell was not so fair as she. 

12 As guileful goldsmith that by secret skill 
With golden foil doth finely over-spread 
Some baser metal, which commend he will 
Unto the vulgar for good gold instead. 

He much more goodly gloss thereon doth shed 
To hide his falsehood, then if it were true : 
So hard this idol ^ was to be aread,^ 

1 Bear the bell away, i.e. take ful owner of the girdle, she was 
the prize. called the false Florimell. 

2 The true and very Florii7iell. ^ Dis?nay, overpower. 
Blandamour's lady was the crea- * Phabe, the same as Diana, the 
tion of a witch. Being the exact moon goddess. 

counterpart of Florimell, the right- ^ Idol, image. 

6 Aread, detected. 



168 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

That Florimell herself in all men's view 

She seemed to pass: so forged things do fairest shew. 

1 3 Then was that golden belt by doom ^ of all 
Granted to her, as to the fairest dame : 
Which being brought, about her middle ^ small 
They thought to gird, as best it her became ; 
But by no means they could it thereto frame : 
For, ever as they fast'ned it, it loosed 

And fell away, as feeling secret blame.^ 

Full oft about her waist she it enclosed ; 

And it as oft was from about her waist disclosed ^ : 

14 That all men wond'red at the uncouth^ sight, 
And each one thought as to their fancies came : 
But she herself did think it done for spite, 
And touched was with secret wrath and shame 
Therewith, as thing devised her to defame. 
Then many other ladies likewise tried 

About their tender loins to knit the same ; 
But it would not on none of them abide. 
But when they thought it fast, eftsoones^ it was 
untied. 



5 



Till that at last the gentle Amoret 

Likewise assayed to prove that girdle's pow'r ; 



1 Doom, judgment. worn only by the purest and best 

2 Middle, waist. of women. 

* And fell away, as feeling secret * Disclosed, unfastened. 

blame. This magic girdle could be ^ Uncouth, strange. 

6 Eftsoones, immediately. 



BRITOMART. 169 

And, having it about her middle set, 
Did find it fit withouten breach or let ^ ; 
Whereat the rest gan greatly to envy ^ : 
But Florimell exceedingly did fret, 
And, snatching from her hand half angrily 
The belt again, about her body gan it tie : 

1 6 Yet nathemore^ would it her body fit ; 
Yet natheless ^ to her, as her due right. 
It yielded was by them that judged it ; 
And she herself adjudged to the knight 
That bore the heben ^ spear, as won in fight. 
But Britomart would not thereto assent, 

Ne her own Amoret forego so light 
For that strange dame, whose beauty's wonderment^ 
She less esteemed than th' other's virtuous govern- 
mentJ 

17 Whom when the rest did see her to refuse, 

They were full glad, in hope themselves to get her ; 
Yet at her choice they all did greatly muse.^ 
But, after that, the judges did arret ^ her 
Unto the second best that loved her better ; 
That was the salvage knight : but he was gone 
In great displeasure, that he could not get her. 

1 Withouten breach or let, i.e. ^ Heben, yew. 

without gap or obstacle. ^ Whose beatity^s wonderment, 

^ Gaft greatly to envy, i.e. were i.e. whose wonderful beauty, 

greatly vexed. "' Government, i.e. mode of life, 

3 N'ath'emore, not the more. behavior. 

^ Natheless, nevertheless. ^ Muse, wonder. 

^ Arret, adjudge. 



170 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Then was she judged Triamond his one ^ ; 
But Triamond loved Canacee and other none. 

1 8 Tho^ unto Satyran she was adjudged, 

Who was right glad to gain so goodly meed : 

But Blandamour thereat full greatly grudged,^ 

And little praised his labour's evil speed,* 

That, for to win the saddle, lost the steed.^ 

Ne less thereat did Paridell complain, 

And thought t' appeal, from that which was decreed. 

To single combat with Sir Satyrane : 

Thereto him Ate stirred, new discord to maintain. 

19 And eke,^ with these, full many other knights 
She through her wicked working did incense 
Her to demand and challenge ^ as their rights, 
Deserved for their perils' recompense. 
Amongst the rest, with boastful vain pretence 
Stepped Braggadochio forth, and as his thrall ^ 
Her claimed, by him in battle won long sens^ : 
Whereto herself he did to witness call ; 
Who, being asked, accordingly confessed all. 

20 Thereat exceeding wroth was Satyran ; 
And wroth with Satyran was Blandamour ; 
And wroth with Blandamour was Erivan ; 

'^ Judged Triamond his one, i.e. false Florimell had come to the 

she was adjudged to Triamond. tournament in company with 

"' Tho, then. Blandamour. 
^ Gf-udged, complained. ^ Eke, also. 

* Speed, issue. "^ Challenge, claim. 

^ That, for to win, etc. The ^ Thrall, captive. 

^ Sens, since. 



BRITOMART. 171 

And at them both Sir Paridell did lower. 
So altogether stirred up strifuU stoure,^ 
And ready were new battle to darrain ^ : 
Each one professed to be her paramour,^ 
And vowed with spear and shield it to maintain ; 
Ne judge's pow'r, ne reason's rule, mote^ them 
restrain. 

21 Which troublous stir when Satyrane avised,^ 
He gan to cast ^ how to appease the same, 
And, to accord them all, this means devised : 
First in the midst to set that fairest dame. 

To whom each one his challenge'^ should disclaim. 
And he himself his right would eke releasse : 
Then, look to whom she voluntary came. 
He should without disturbance her possess : 
Sweet is the love that comes alone with willingness. 

22 They all agreed ; and then that snowy maid 
Was in the middest placed among them all : 

All on her gazing wished, and vowed, and prayed. 
And to the queen of beauty ^ close ^ did call. 
That she unto their portion might befall. 
Then when she long had looked upon each one. 
As though she wished to have pleased them all, 
At last to Braggadochio self alone. 
She came of her accord, in spite of all his fone.^^ 

1 Stoure, tumult. ^ Avised, perceived. 

2 Darrain, wage. ® Cast, plan. 

^ Professed to be her paramour, '^ Challenge, claim. 

i.e. asserted that he was her right- ^ Queett of beauty, i.e. Venus, 

ful lover. ^ Close, secretly. 

* Mote, might. '^^ Fone, foes. 



172 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

23 Which when they all beheld, they chafed, and raged, 
And woxe ^ nigh mad for very heart's despite,^ 
That from revenge their wills they scarce assuaged^ : 
Some thought from him her to have reft ^ by might ; 
Some proffer made with him for her to fight : 

But he nought cared for all that they could say ; 
For he their words as wind esteemed light : 
Yet not fit place he thought it there to stay, 
But secretly from thence that night her bore away. 

24 They which remained, so soon as they perceived 
That she was gone, departed thence with speed. 
And followed them, in mind her to have reaved ^ 
From wight unworthy of so noble meed. 

In which pursuit how each one did succeed, 

Shall else ^ be told in order, as it fell. 

But now of Britomart it here doth need 

The hard adventures and strange haps to tell ; 

Since with the rest she went not after Florimell. 

25 For soon as she them saw to discord set, 
Her list ^ no longer in that place abide ; 
But, taking with her lovely Amoret, 
Upon her first adventure ^ forth did ride, 

To seek her loved, making blind Love her guide. 
Unlucky maid, to seek her enemy ! 
Unlucky maid, to seek him far and wide, 

1 Woxe, grew, became. ^ Else, elsewhere. 

2 Despite, vexation. "^ Her list, she desired. 

^ Assuaged, pacified, appeased. ^ Her first adventure, i.e. the 

* Reft, taken away. object for which she left her 

* Reaved, taken away. home. 



BRITOMART. 173 

Whom, when he was unto herself most nigh, 
She through his late disguisement could him not 
descry ! 

26 So much the more her grief, the more her toil : 
Yet neither toil nor grief she once did spare. 
In seeking him that should her pain assoil ^ ; 
Whereto great comfort in her sad misfare^ 
Was Amoret, companion of her care : 

Who likewise sought her lover long miswent,^ 
The gentle Scudamour,* whose heart whileare ^ 
That stryfuU hag, with jealous discontent 
Had filled, that he to fell^ revenge was fully 
bent ; 

27 Bent to revenge on blameless Britomart 
The crime which cursed Ate kindled erst,^ 

The which like thorns did prick his jealous heart. 
And through his soul like poisoned arrow persed,^ 
That by no reason it might be reversed,^ 
For ought that Glauce could or do or say : 
For, aye the more that she the same rehearsed, 
The more it galled and grieved him night and day, 
That nought but dire revenge his anger mote 
defray.^*^ 

against the supposed knight, Brito- 

1 Assoil, remove. mart. 

2 Misfare, misfortune. 5 Whileare, whilere, recently. 

3 Miswent, gone astray. 6 Fell, fierce. 
* The gentle Scndamotir, etc. ' Erst, first. 

The poet makes a sudden transi- ^ Persed, pierced. 

tion here, taking us back to Scuda- 9 Reversed, drawn out. 

mour whom we left full of wrath i"^ Mote defray, might appease. 



174 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

28 So as they travelled, the drooping night 
Covered with cloudy storm and bitter shower, 
That dreadful seemed to every living wight, 
Upon them fell, before her timely hour ; 
That forced them to seek some covert bower. 
Where they might hide their heads in quiet rest, 
And shroud their persons from that stormy stowre.^ 
Not far away, not meet for any guest. 

They spied a little cottage, like some poor man's 
nest. 

29 Under a steep hill's side it placed was. 

There where the mould'red earth had caved ^ the 

bank ; 
And fast beside a little brook did pass 
Of muddy water, that like puddle stank. 
By which few crooked sallows ^ grew in rank : 
Whereto approaching nigh, they heard the sound 
Of many iron hammers beating rank,^ 
And answering their weary turns around. 
That seemed some blacksmith dwelt in that desert 

ground. 

30 There ent'ring in, they found the goodman ^ self 
Full busily unto his work ybent ; 

Who was to weet a wretched wearish ^ elf. 
With hollow eyes and rawbone cheeks forspent," 

1 Stowre, tumult. ^ Goodman, i.e. the master of 

2 Caved, made hollow. the house ; often used in speaking 

3 Sallows, willows. familiarly. 

* Raftk, fiercely. ^ Wearish, withered. 

"^ Forspent, wasted. 



BRITOMART. 175 

As if he had in prison long been pent : 
Full black and grisly ^ did his face appear, 
Besmeared with smoke that nigh his eyesight blent ^ ; 
With rugged beard, and hoary shagged hair. 
The which he never wont to comb, or comely sheare. 

31 Rude was his garment, and to rags all rent, 
Ne better had he, ne for better cared : 

With blist'red hands amongst the cinders brent,^ 
And fingers filthy with long nails unpared. 
Right fit to rend the food on which he fared. 
His name was Care ; a blacksmith by his trade. 
That neither day nor night from working spared. 
But to small purpose iron wedges made : 
Those be unquiet thoughts, that careful minds 
invade. 

32 In which his work he had six servants^ prest,^ 
About the andvile standing evermore. 

With huge great hammers, that did never rest 

From heaping strokes which thereon soused " sore : 

All six strong grooms, but one then other more ; 

For by degrees they all were disagreed ^ ; 

So likewise did the hammers which they bore 

Like bells in greatness orderly succeed. 

That he which was the last the first did far exceed. 

^ Grisly, horrible. represent the seven days of the 

2 Blent, blinded. week. 

3 Brent, burnt. ^ Brest, ready. 

^ Careful, full of care. "^ Soused, pounced upon, fell 

^ Six servants. Upton says upon, 
that Care and his six servants ^ Disagreed, made to differ. 



176 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

33 He like a monstrous giant seemed in sight, 
Far passing Bronteus or Pyracmon ^ great, 
The which in Lipari^ do day and night 
Frame thunderbolts for Jove's avengeful threat. 
So dreadfully he did the andvile beat. 

That seemed to dust he shortly would it drive : 
So huge his hammer, and so fierce his heat. 
That seemed a rock of diamond it could rive ^ 
And rend asunder quite, if he thereto list * strive. 

34 Sir Scudamour there ent'ring much admired^ 
The manner of their work and weary pain ; 
And, having long beheld, at last enquired 
The cause and end thereof ; but all in vain ; 

For they for nought would from their work refrain, 
Ne let his speeches come unto their ear ; 
And eke the breathful bellows blew amain. 
Like to the northern wind, that none could hear ; 
Those pensifeness did move ; and sighs the bellows 
weare.^ 

35 Which when that warrior saw, he said no more, 
But in his armour laid him down to rest : 

To rest he laid him down upon the floor, 

(Whilom ^ for ventrous ^ knights the bedding best,) 

And thought his weary limbs to have redressed.^ 

^ Bronteus or Pyracnioji, Cy- * List, desired to. 

elopes, servants of Vulcan. ^ Admired, wondered at. 

2 Lipari, one of the ^olian ^ Weare, were, 

isles, north of Sicily. "^ Whilotn, formerly. 

2 Rive, rend. ^ Ventrous, adventurous. 

^ Redressed, refreshed. 



BRITOMART. 177 

And that old, aged dame, his faithful squire, 
Her feeble joints laid eke adown to rest ; 
That needed much her weak age to desire,^ 
After so long a travel which them both did tire. 

36 There lay Sir Scudamour long while expecting 
When gentle sleep his heavy eyes would close ; 
Oft changing sides, and oft new place electing. 
Where better seemed he mote himself repose ; 
And oft in wrath he thence again uprose ; 
And oft in wrath he laid him down again. 
But, wheresoever he did himself dispose, 

He by no means could wished ease obtain : 
So every place seemed painful, and each changing 
vain. 

37 And evermore, when he to sleep did think, 
The hammers' sound his senses did molest ; 
And evermore, when he began to wink,^ 
The bellows' noise disturbed his quiet rest, 
Ne suff'red sleep to settle in his breast. 
And all the night the dogs did bark and howl 
About the house, at scent of stranger guest : 
And now the crowing cock, and now the owl 
Loud shrieking, him afflicted to the very sowle.^ 

38 And, if by fortune any little nap 
Upon his heavy eye-lids chanced to fall, 
Eftsoones one of those villeins ^ him did rap 

1 That needed muck, etc., i.e. ^ Soivle, soul. 

that her weak age must necessarily * Villeins, men of low birth, 

desire. menials. 

2 Wink., close his eyes. 



178 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Upon his head-piece with his iron mall ^ ; 

That he was soon awaked therewithal, 

And lightly started up as one afraid, 

Or as if one him suddenly did call : 

So oftentimes he out of sleep abrayed,^ 

And then lay musing long on that him ill apayed.^ 

39 So long he mused, and so long he lay. 
That at the last his weary sprite* oppressed 
With fleshly weakness, which no creature may 
Long time resist, gave place to kindly rest, 
That all his senses did full soon arrest : 

Yet, in his soundest sleep, his daily ^ fear 
His idle brain gan busily molest. 
And made him dream those two disloyal were ^ : 
The things that day most minds, at night do most 
appear. 

40 With that the wicked carle,^ the maister smith, 
A pair of red-hot iron tongs did take 

Out of the burning cinders, and therewith 

Under his side him nipped ; that, forced to wake, 

He felt his heart for very pain to quake. 

And started up avenged for to be 

On him the which his quiet slumber brake : 



1 Mall, hammer. ^ Daily, i.e. of the day. 

2 Abrayed, awoke. ^ And made him dream, etc., i.e. 

3 Oti that him ill apayed, i.e. made him dream that Amoret had 
on that which disturbed him or accepted as her lover the supposed 
made him dissatisfied. knight, Britomart. 

4 Sprite, spirit. "^ Carle, churl. 



BRITOMART. 179 

Yet, looking round about him, none could see ; 
Yet did the smart remain, though he himself ^ did 
flee. 

41 In such disquiet and heart-fretting pain 

He all that night, that too long night, did pass. 
And now the day out of the ocean main^ 
Began to peep above this earthly mass. 
With pearly dew sprinkling the morning grass : 
Then up he rose like heavy lump of lead. 
That in his face, as in a looking-glass. 
The signs of anguish one mote plainly read, 
And guess the man to be dismayed^ with jealous* 
dread. 

42 Unto his lofty steed he clomb ^ anone,^ 
And forth upon his former voyage fared,' 
And with him eke that aged squire attone^; 
Who, whatsoever peril was prepared. 

Both equal pains and equal peril shared : 
The end whereof and dangerous event 
Shall for another canticle ^ be spared : 
But here my weary team, nigh over-spent, ^^ 
Shall breathe itself awhile after so long a went.^^ 

1 He himself, i.e. Care who had ^ Clomb, climbed, 

tormented Scudamour. ^ Anone, anon. 

- Ocean main, that is, the great ' Fared, went, 

sea as distinguished from an arm ^ Attone, together, 

or bay. ^ Canticle, canto. 

3 Dismayed, overpowered. i"^ Over-spent, over-exhausted. 

^Jealous, suspicious, apprehen- ^^ Went, journey, 
sive. 



XII. 



Bntomart encounters Artegall and Scudamour. Artcgall wins her 
love. Saidamour learns of the disappearance of Anioret. 

1 What equal torment to the grief of mind 
And pining anguish hid in gentle heart, 
That inly feeds itself with thoughts unkind, 
And nourisheth her own consuming smart ! 
What medicine can any leech's ^ art 

Yield such a sore, that doth her grievance hide. 
And will to none her malady impart ! 
Such was the wound that Scudamour did gride ^ : 
For which Dan Phoebus self cannot a salve provide.^ 

2 Who having left that restless house of Care, 
The next day, as he on his way did ride. 
Full of melancholy and sad misfare* 
Through misconceit,^ all unawares espied 
An armed knight under a forest side 
Sitting in shade beside his grazing steed ; 
Who, soon as them approaching he descried, 
Gan towards them to prick ^ with eager speed, 
That seemed he was full bent to some mischievous 

deed. 

Apollo and his son ^sculapius 
^ Leech 'j, physician's. were revered as the chief gods of 

2 Gride, pierce. healing. 

^ For xvhich Dan Fhcebus self * Alisfare, unhappiness. 

etc. Dan, a title of respect placed ^ Misconceit, misconception. 

before personal nouns. Fhcebns ^ Frick, ride, using spurs; 



BRITOMAKT. 181 

3 Which Scudamour perceiving forth issued 
To have rencount'red him in equal race ^ ; 
But, soon as th' other nigh approaching viewed 
The arms he bore, his spear he gan abase 
And void his course ^ ; at which so sudden case 
He wond'red much : but th' other thus can^ say: 
" Ah ! gentle Scudamour, unto your grace 

I me submit, and you of pardon pray. 

That almost had against you trespassed this day." 

4 Whereto thus Scudamour : " Small harm it were 
For any knight upon a ventrous * knight 
Without displeasance ^ for to prove his spear. 
But read ^ you, sir, sith ^ ye my name have hight,^ 
What is your own, that I mote you requite } " 

'' Certes," ^ said he, "ye mote as now excuse 
Me from discovering you my name aright ^^ : 
For time yet serves that I the same refuse ^^ ; 
But call ye me the salvage ^^ knight, as others 
use." 

5 " Then this. Sir Salvage Knight," quoth he, " aread ; 
Or do you here within this forest wonne,i^ 

1 To have rencountered hitn,^\.Q..., "^ Sith, since. 

i.e. that he might encounter him at ^ Hight, called, 

equal speed. 9 Certes, truly. 

^ His spear he gan abase, etc., i.e. ^^ From discovering you, etc., i.e. 

he lowered his spear and turned from telling you my real name, 

from his course. n For time yet serves, etc., i.e. at 

3 Ca7i say, gan say, did say. the present time I have a reason 

* Ventrous, adventurous. for refusing to make myself known. 

^ Displeasance, displeasure. 12 Salvage, wild, woodland. 

^ Read, declare. 13 Wonne, dwell. 



182 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

That seemeth well to answer to your weed,^ 

Or have ye it for some occasion done ? 

That rather seems, sith knowen arms ye shun." ^ 

"This other day," said he, ''a stranger knight 

Shame and dishonour hath unto me done ; 

On whom I wait to wreak ^ that foul despite. 

Whenever he this way shall pass by day or night." 

6 "Shame be his meed," quoth he, "that meaneth 

shame * ! 
But what is he by whom ye shamed were ? " 
"A stranger knight," said he, "unknown by name, 
But known by fame, and by an heben ^ spear 
With which he all that met him down did bear. 
He, in an open tourney lately held, 
Fro me the honour of that game did rear ^ ; 
And having me, all weary erst,^ down felled. 
The fairest lady reft,^ and ever since withheld."^ 

7 When Scudamour heard mention of that spear, 
He wist 10 right well that it was Britomart, 
The which from him his fairest love did bear. 
Tho gan he swell in every inner part 

^ Weed, dress. 6 Rear, lift, take away (a pecu- 

2 That rathe)- seems, etc., i.e. liar use of the word), 
that seems to be the case since '^ Erst, before, 
you shun the encounter with me ^ Reft, took away. 

whose arms you recognize. ^ jy^^ fairest lady reft, etc. 

3 Wreak, revenge. Artegall does not know that " the 
* S/iafne be his meed, etc. Up- false Florimell," the acknowledged 

ton says that " Honi soit qui mal " queen of beauty," left the tourna- 

y pense " was the motto of the ment with Braggadochio — not 

knights of Maidenhead. with Britomart. 

^ Heben, yew. i'^ Wist, knew. 



BRJTOMART. 183 

For fell despite,^ and gnaw his jealous heart, 
That thus he sharply said : " Now by my head, 
Yet is not this the first unknightly part. 
Which that same knight, whom by his lance I read,^ 
Hath done to noble knights, that many makes him 
dread ^ : 

8 " For lately he my love hath fro me reft, 

In shame of knighthood and fidelity ; 

The which ere long full dear he shall aby*'; 

And if to that avenge by you decreed 

This hand may help or succour ought supply, 

It shall not fail whenso ye shall it need." 

So both to wreak their wraths on Britomart agreed. 

9 Whiles thus they communed, lo ! far away 

A knight soft riding towards them they spied, 
. Attired in foreign arms and straunge array : 

Whom when they nigh approached, they plain descried 

To be the same for whom they did abide. 

Said then Sir Scudamour, " Sir Salv-age Knight, 

Let me this crave, sith first I was defied. 

That first I may that wrong to him requite : 

And, if I hap to fail, you shall recure ^ my right." 

lo Which being yielded, he his threatful spear 
Gan feuter,^ and against her fiercely ran. 



Fell despite, fierce vexation. ^ Aby, pay for. 



2 A'mt/, declare; here, recognize. ^ Kecure, recover, retrieve. 

•' T/iatfnany, etc., i.e. his actions ^ Feuter, put in rest, 

make many knights dread him. 



184 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Who soon as she him saw approaching near 

With so fell rage, herself she lightly gan 

To dightji to welcome him well as she can ; 

But entertained him in so rude a wise, 

That to the ground she smote both horse and man ; 

Whence neither greatly hasted to arise, 

But on their common harms together did devise. 

1 1 But Artegall, beholding his mischance, 
New matter added to his former fire ; 
And, eft 2 avent'ring^ his steel-headed lance, 
Against her rode, full of despiteous ^ ire. 

That nought but spoil and vengeance did require ^ : 

But to himself his felonous intent 

Returning disappointed his desire, 

Whiles unawares his saddle he forwent,^ 

And found himself on ground in great amazement. 

12 Lightly he started up out of that stound,^ 
And, snatching forth his direful deadly blade, 
Did leap to her, as doth an eager hound 
Thrust to an hind within some covert glade, 
Whom without peril he cannot invade : 
With such fell greediness he her assailed, 

That though she mounted were, yet he her made 
To give him ground, (so much his force prevailed,) 
And shun his mighty strokes, gainst which no 
arms availed. 



1 Gan to digki, i.e. did prepare. * Despiteous, cruel. 

2 Eft, again (in his turn). ^ Require, seek. 

3 Aventering, pushing forward. ^ fortvettt, forsook. 

■^ Stound, situation. 



BRITOMAKT. 185 

13 So, as they coursed here and there, it chanced 
That, in her wheeling round, behind her crest 
So sorely he her strooke, that thence it glanced 
Adown her back, the which it fairly blessed ^ 
From foul mischance ; ne did it ever rest, 

Till on her horse's hinder parts it fell ; 
Where, biting deep, so deadly it impressed. 
That quite it chined ^ his back behind the sell,^ 
And to alight on foot her algates ^ did compel : 

14 Like as the lightning-brond from riven sky. 
Thrown out by angry Jove in his vengeance, 
With dreadful force falls on some steeple high ; 
Which batt'ring, down it on the church doth 

glance. 
And tears it all with terrible mischance. 
Yet she no whit dismayed her steed forsook ; 
And, casting from her that enchanted lance, 
Unto her sword and shield her soon betook ; 
And therewithal at him right furiously she strook. 

1 5 So furiously she strooke in her first heat. 
Whiles with long fight on foot he breathless was, 
That she him forced backward to retreat, 

And yield unto her weapon way to pass : 
Whose raging rigour neither steel nor brass 
Could stay, but to the tender flesh it went. 
And poured the purple blood forth on the grass ; 



1 Blessed, preserved. ^ Sell, saddle. 

'^ Chined, split. * Algates, at all events. 



186 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

That all his mail yrived/ and plates yrent,^ 
Showed all his body bare imto the cruel dent.^ 

1 6 At length, whenas he saw her hasty heat 
Abate, and panting breath begin to fail, 

He through long sufferance* growing now more 

great. 
Rose in his strength, and gan her fresh assail. 
Heaping huge strokes as thick as show'r of hail. 
And lashing dreadfully at every part, 
As if he thought her soul to disentrail.^ 
Ah ! cruel hand, and thrice more cruel heart. 
That workst such wreck on her to whom thou 

dearest art ! 

1 7 What iron courage ^ ever could endure 

To work such outrage on so fair a creature ! 
And in his madness think with hands impure 
To spoil so goodly workmanship of nature. 
The Maker self resembling in her feature <" ! 
Certes^ some hellish fury or some fiend 
This mischief framed, for their first love's defeature,^ 
To bathe their hands in blood of dearest friend. 
Thereby to make their love's beginning their lives' 
end. 

1 8 Thus long they traced ^^ and traversed to and fro. 
Sometimes pursuing, and sometimes pursued, 

1 Yrived, torn apart. ^ Courage, heart. 

2 Yrent, rent. "^ Feature, general appearance. 

3 Dent, dint, blow. ^ Certes, surely. 

* Sufferance, endurance. ^ Defeaticre, defeat. 

° Disentrail, i.e. dislodge. "^^ Traced, went. 



BRITOMART. 1S7 

Still as advantage they espied thereto : 

But toward th' end Sir Arthegall renewed 

His strength still more, but she still more de- 

crewed.^ 
At last his luckless hand he heaved on high, 
Having his forces all in one accrued,^ 
And therewith stroke at her so hideously. 
That seemed nought but death mote be her destiny. 

19 The wicked stroke upon her helmet chanced. 
And with the force, which in itself it bore. 

Her ventaiP shard ^ away, and thence forth glanced 
Adown in vain, ne harmed her any more. 
With that, her angel's face, unseen afore, 
Like to the ruddy morn appeared in sight, 
Dewed with silver drops through sweating sore ; 
But somewhat redder then beseemed aright, 
Through toilsome heat and labour of her weary 
fight: 

20 And round about the same her yellow hair, 
Having through stirring loosed their wonted band. 
Like to a golden border did appear, 

Framed in goldsmith's forge with cunning hand : 
Yet goldsmith's cunning could not understand 
To frame such subtile ^ wire, so shiny clear ; 
For it did glister like the golden sand, 

1 Decrewed, decreased. armor that protected the lower 

'^ Accrued, collected. part of the face. 

3 Ventail, beaver, the piece of ■* Shard, cut. 

^ Subtile, fine, delicate. 



188 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

The which Pactolus ^ with his waters sheer ^ * 
Throws forth upon the rivage^ round about him 
near. 

21 And as his hand he up again did rear, 
Thinking to work on her his utmost wrack,* 
His pow'rless arm benumbed with secret fear 
From his revengeful purpose shronke aback, 
And cruel sword out of his fingers slack 

Fell down to ground, as if the steel had sense 
And felt some ruth,^ or sense his hand did lack, 
Or both of them did think obedience 
To do to so divine a beauty's excellence. 

22 And he himself, long gazing thereupon. 
At last fell humbly down upon his knee, 
And of his wonder made religion,^ 
Weening ^ some heavenly goddess he did see, 
Or else unweeting ^ what it else might be ; 
And pardon her besought his error frail. 
That had done outrage in so high degree : 
Whilst trembling horror did his sense assail, 

And made each member quake, and manly heart to 
quail. 



1 Pactolus, a river in Smyrna, ^ Ruth, pity 

Asia Minor, said to have golden ^ Religion, pronounced as four 

sands. syllables. And of his wonder, oXo.., 

2 Sheer, clear, pure. i.e. he first wondered, and then 

3 Rivage, bank. adored. 

* Wrack, ruin. '^ Weening, thinking. 

8 Unweeting, not knowing. 



BRITOMART. 189 

23 Natheless ^ she, full of wrath for that late stroke, 
All that long while upheld her wrathful hand, 
With fell 2 intent on him to bene ywroke ^ ; 
And, looking stern, still over him did stand, 
Threat'ning to strike unless he would withstand*; 
And bade him rise, or surely he should die. 

But, die or live, for nought he would upstand ; 
But her of pardon prayed more earnestly. 
Or wreak on him her will for so great injury. 

24 Which whenas Scudamour, who now abrayed,^ 
Beheld, whereas he stood not far aside. 

He was therewith right wondrously dismayed ; 
And drawing nigh, whenas he plain descried 
That peerless pattern of Dame Nature's pride 
And heavenly image of perfection,^ 
He blest himself as one sore terrified ; 
And, turning fear to faint devotion. 
Did worship her as some celestial vision. 

25 But Glauce, seeing all that chanced there. 
Well weeting how their error to assoil," 
Full glad of so good end, to them drew near. 
And her salued ^ with seemly bel-accoyle,^ 
Joyous to see her safe after long toil : 
Then her besought, as she to her was dear, 

1 Natheless, nevertheless. nounced as two syllables ; the 

2 Fell, cruel. same is true of devotion and vision. 

3 Ywroke, avenged. ''' Assoil, dispel. 

* Withstand, resist. ^ Salued, saluted. 

^ Abrayed, awoke. ® Bel-accoyle {bel-accueil), greet- 

^ Perfection ; last syllable pro- ing. 



190 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

To grant unto those warriors truce awhile ; 
Which yielded, they their beavers up did rear, 
And showed themselves to her such as indeed they 
were. 

26 When Britomart with sharp aviseful ^ eye 
Beheld the lovely face of Artegall 
Temp'red with sternness and stout ^ majesty, 
She gan eftsoones^ it to her mind to call^ 
To be the same which, in her father's hall 
Long since in that enchanted glass she saw : 
Therewith her wrathful courage gan appall,^ 
And haughty spirits meekly to adaw,^ 

That her enhaunced '^ hand she down can ^ soft 
withdraw. 

27 Yet she it forced to have again upheld, 

As feigning choler which was turned to cold : 
But ever, when his visage she beheld, 
Her hand fell down, and would no longer hold 
The wrathful weapon gainst his count'nance bold : 
But, when in vain to fight she oft assayed. 
She armed her tongue, and thought at him to scold : 
Natheless her tongue not to her will obeyed, 
But brought forth speeches mild when she would 
have missaid.^ 

28 But Scudamour, now woxen ^^ inly glad 
That all his jealous fear he false had found, 

1 Aviseful, observant. ^ A daw, abate. 

'- Sto7it, brave, dauntless. '^ Enhaunced, raised. 

2 Eftsoones, immediately. '^ Ca7t, gan, i.e. did. 

* Call, recall. ^ Missaid, abused, berated. 



Gan appall, began to weaken. ^^ Woxen, grown. 



BRITOMART. 191 

And how that hag ^ his love abused had 
With breach of faith and loyalty unsound, 
The which long time his grieved heart did wound, 
He thus bespake : "Certes, Sir Artegall, 
I joy to see you lout^ so low on ground, 
And now become to live a lady's thrall. 
That whilom ^ in your mind wont to despise them 
all." 

29 Soon as she heard the name of Artegall, 

Her heart did leap, and all her heart-strings tremble, 
For sudden joy and secret fear withal ; 
And all her vital pow'rs, with motion nimble 
To succour it, themselves gan there assemble ; 
That by the swift recourse^ of flushing blood 
Right plain appeared, though she it would dissemble. 
And feigned still her former angry mood. 
Thinking to hide the depth by troubling of the flood. 

30 When Glauce thus gan wisely all upknit : 

" Ye gentle knights, whom fortune here hath brought 
To be spectators of this uncouth fit,^ 
Which secret fate hath in this lady wrought 
Against the course of kind,^ ne marvel nought ; 
Ne thenceforth fear the thing that hitherto 
Hath troubled both your minds with idle thought, 
Fearing lest she your loves away should woo ; 



1 That hag, i.e. Ate, the goddess * Recourse, frequent passage, 
of discord. ^ Uncouth fit, %\.X2Xi%^ fact or 

■^ Lout, bow. effect. 

2 Whilom, formerly. ^ Kind, nature. 



192 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

31 "And you, Sir Artegall, the salvage knight,^ 
Henceforth may not disdain that woman's hand 
Hath conquered you anew in second fight : 
For whilom they have conquered sea and land, 
And heaven itself, that nought may them with- 
stand : 

Ne henceforth be rebellious unto love, 

That is the crown of knighthood and the band 

Of noble minds derived from above, 

Which, being knit with virtue, never will remove. 

32 "And you, fair lady knight, my dearest dame. 
Relent the rigour of your wrathful will, 
Whose fire were better turned to other flame ; 
And, wiping out remembrance of all ill. 
Grant him your grace ; but so that he fulfil 
The penance which ye shall to him empart ^ ; 
For lover's heaven must pass by sorrow's hell." 
Thereat full inly blushed Britomart ; 

But Artegall, close-smiling,^ joyed in secret heart. 

33 Yet durst he not make love so suddenly, 
Ne think th' affection of her heart to draw 
From one to other so quite contrary : 
Besides her modest countenance he saw 
So goodly grave, and full of princely awe. 
That it his ranging fancy did refrain. 

And looser thougrhts to lawful bounds withdraw : 



1 Salvage knight, wild knight, '^ Empart, make known, 

knight of the woods. 3 (7/^j.^.f;;;///;/c.-^ secretly smiling. 



BRITOMART. 193 

34 But Scudamour, whose heart twixt doubtful fear 
And feeble hope hung all this while suspense,^ 
Desiring of his Amoret to hear 

Some gladful news and sure intelligence, 

Her thus bespake : " But, sir, without offence, 

Mote I request you tidings of my love. 

My Amoret, sith you her freed fro thence 

Where she, captived long, great woes did prove ^ ; 

That where ye left I may her seek, as doth behove." 

35 To whom thus Britomart : " Certes,^ sir knight, 
What is of her become, or whither reft,* 

I cannot unto you aread ^ aright. 

For from that time I from enchanter's theft 

Her freed, in which ye her all hopeless left, 

I her preserved from peril and from fear. 

And evermore from villainy her kept : 

Ne ever was there wight to me more dear 

Then she, ne unto whom I more true love did bear : 

36 " Till on a day, as through a desert wild 
We travelled, both weary of the way. 
We did alight, and sate in shadow mild ; 
Where fearless I to sleep me down did lay : 
But, whenas I did out of sleep abray,^ 

I found her not where I her left whilere,^ 

But thought she wand'red was, or gone astray : 

I called her loud, I sought her far and near ; 

But nowhere could her find, nor tidings of her hear." 

1 Suspense, suspended. ■* Reft, taken away by violence. 

2 Prove, experience. * Aread, declare. 

3 Certes, truly. ^ Abray, awake. 

" IVhilere, a little while before. 



194 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

37 When Scudamour those heavy tidings heard, 
His heart was thrilled ^ with point of deadly fear, 
Ne in his face or blood or life appeared ; 

But senseless stood, like to a mazed ^ steer 
That yet of mortal stroke the stound ^ doth bear : 
Till Glauce thus : " Fair sir, be nought dismayed 
With needless dread, till certainty ye hear ; 
For yet she may be safe though somewhat strayed : 
It's best to hope the best, though of the worst 
afraid." 

38 Nathless he hardly of her cheerful speech 
Did comfort take, or in his troubled sight 
Showed change of better cheer, so sore a breach 
That sudden news had made into his sprite,^ 
Till Britomart him fairly thus behight ^ : 

" Great cause of sorrow certes,^ sir, ye have ; 
But comfort take ; for, by this heaven's light, 
I vow you dead or living not to leave. 
Till I her find, and wreak on^ him that her did 



39 Therewith he rested, and well pleased was, 
So, peace being confirmed amangst them all, 
They took their steeds, and forward thence did pass 
Unto some resting place, which mote befall,^ 

1 Thrilled, pierced. ^ Behight, promised. 

2 Mazed, dazed. ^ Certes, certainly. 

3 Stound, sudden pain or alarm. "^ Wreak on, take vengeance on. 

4 So sore a breach, etc., i.e. such ^ Reave, carry off. 

a dreadful effect had been made ^ Which mote befall, i.e. that 

upon his mind by the sudden news. they might happen upon. 



BRITOMART. 195 

All being guided by Sir Artegall : 
Where goodly solace was unto them made, 
And daily feasting both in bow'r and hall, 
Until that they their wounds well healed had, 
And weary limbs recured ^ after late usage bad. 

40 In all which time Sir Artegall made way 
Unto the love of noble Britomart. 

And with meek service and much suit did lay 
Continual siege unto her gentle heart ; 
Which, being whilom launcht ^ with lovely dart,^ 
More eath * was new impression to receive ; 
However she her pained ^ with womanish art 
To hide her wound, that none might it perceive : 
Vain is the art that seeks itself for to deceive. 

41 So well he wooed her, and so well he wrought her,^ 
With fair entreaty and sweet blandishment. 

That at the length unto a bay ^ he brought her, 
So as she to his speeches was content 
To lend an ear, and softly to relent. 
At last, through many vows which forth he poured 
And many oaths, she yielded her consent 
To be his love, and take him for her lord. 
Till they with marriage meet might finish that 
accord.^ 

1 Recured, restored. ^ Wrought her, i.e. worked upon 

2 Launcht, pierced. her feelings. 

^ Lovely dart, i.e. dart of love. "^ Unto a bay, i.e. to bay, to a 

* Eath, easy. position from which she could not 

5 She her pained, i.e. she made escape, 
an effort. ^ Accord, agreement. 



196 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

42 Tho, when they had long time there taken rest, 
Sir Artegall, who all this while was bound 
Upon an hard adventure yet in quest/ 

Fit time for him thence to depart it found, 
To follow that which he did long propound 2; 
And unto her his conge ^ came to take : 
But her therewith full sore displeased he found. 
And loath to leave her late betrothed make * ; 
Her dearest love full loath so shortly to forsake. 

43 Yet he with strong persuasions her assuaged,^ 
And won her will to suffer him depart ; 

For which his faith with her he fast engaged. 

And thousand vows from bottom of his heart. 

That, all so soon as he by wit or art 

Could that achieve whereto he did aspire. 

He unto her would speedily revert ^ : 

No longer space thereto he did desire, 

But till the horned moon three courses did expire.^ 

44 With which she for the present was appeased. 
And yielded leave, however malcontent 

She inly were and in her mind displeased. 
So, early on the morrow next, he went 
Forth on his way to which he was ybent ; 
Ne wight him to attend, or way to guide. 
As whilom was the custom ancient 



1 Yet ill quest, i.e. upon which ^ Make, mate. 

he was still bent. ^ Assuaged, appeased. 

2 Propoimd, purpose. ^ Revert, return. 

3 Conge, farewell. '^ Expire, wear out. 



BRITOMART. 197 

Mongst knights when on adventures they did ride, 
Save that she algates ^ him awhile accompanied. 

45 And by the way she sundry purpose ^ found 
Of this or that, the time for to delay. 

And of the perils whereto he was bound, 
The fear whereof seemed much her to affray : 
But all she did was but to wear out day.^ 
Full oftentimes she leave of him did take ; 
And eft * again devised somewhat to say, 
Which she forgot, whereby excuse to make : 
So loath she was his company for to forsake. 

46 At last, when all her speeches she had spent, 
And new occasion failed her more to find. 
She left him to his fortune's government. 
And back returned with right heavy mind 
To Scudamour, who she had left behind ; 
With whom she went to seek fair Amoret, 
Her second care, though in another kind : 
For virtue's only sake, which doth beget 

True love and faithful friendship, she by her did set.^ 

47 Back to that desert forest they retired, 
Where sorry Britomart had lost her late : 
There they her sought, and everywhere inquired 
Where they might tidings get of her estate ; 
Yet found they none. But, by what hapless fate 

1 Algaies, to be sure. * Eft, soon. 

2 Purpose, matter of discourse. ^ By her did set, i.e. valued 

3 Day, time. her. 



198 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Or hard misfortune she was thence conveyed, 
And stol'n away from her beloved mate, 
Were long to tell ; therefore I here will stay 
Until another tide,^ that I it finish may. 

1 Tide, time. 



XIII. 

Prince Arthur, having rescued Amoret, leaves her and goes to the 
assistance of Britomart and Scudaniour. 

The poet tells how Amoret was stolen by a monstrous creature, — 

a wild and salvage man, — 
Yet was no man, but only like in shape, — 

and how she was carried by him to his cave. After much suffering she 
managed to make her escape, and later fell in with Prince Arthur, the 
perfect knight. He cared for her most tenderly. As they were jour- 
neying together in the hope of meeting Scudamour, Amoret's husband, 
they saw in the distance a group of knights, among them, — Druon, 
Claribell, Blandamour, and Paridell. 

1 But those two other, which beside them stood, 
Were Britomart and gentle Scudamour ; 

Who all the while beheld their wrathful mood, 
And wond'red at their implacable stoure,^ 
Whose like they never saw till that same hour : 
So dreadful strokes each did at other drive, 
And laid on load with all their might and pow'r, 
As if that every dint^ the ghost ^ would rive* 
Out of their wretched corses,^ and their lives 
deprive ^ : 

2 As when Dan ^olus,^ in great displeasure 
For loss of his dear love by Neptune hent,^ 

1 Stoure, assault. ^ Corses, bodies. 

2 Dint, blow. 6 Deprive, destroy. 

3 Ghost, spirit. ' Aeolus, the ruler of the winds. 
* Rive, rend, tear. ^ Hent, seized, taken away. 



200 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Sends forth the winds out of his hidden treasure 
Upon the sea to wreak his full intent ; 
They, breaking forth with rude unruliment ^ 
From all four parts of heaven, do rage full sore. 
And toss the deeps, and tear the firmament. 
And all the world confound with wide uproar ; 
As if instead thereof they chaos would restore. 

3 Cause of their discord and so fell debate ^ 
Was for the love of that same snowy maid,^ 
Whom they had lost in tournament of late ; 

And, seeking long to weet* which way she strayed, 

Met here together ; where, through lewd upbraid ^ 

Of Ate and Duessa, they fell out ; 

And each one taking part in other's aid. 

This cruel conflict raised thereabout. 

Whose dangerous success depended yet in doubt ^: 

4 For sometimes Paridell and Blandamour 
The better had, and bet the others back ; 
Eftsoones '' the others did the field recoure,^ 
And on their foes did work full cruel wrack ^ : 
Yet neither would their fiend-like fury slack, 
But evermore their malice did augment ; 

1 Unruliment, unruliness. ^ Lewd upbraid, wicked con- 

2 Fell debate, fierce contest. tumely. 

3 That same snowy maid, i.e. the ^ Whose dangerous success, etc., 
false Florimell, the lady that re- i.e. the issue of this dangerous con- 
ceived the magic girdle. It will flict was still doubtful. 

be remembered that she left the '^ Eftsoones, immediately, 

tournament with Braggadochio. ^ Rccoure, recover. 

* Wect, know. ^ Wrack, ruin. 



BRITOMART. 201 

Till that unneath ^ they forced were, for lack 

Of breath, their raging rigour to relent. 

And rest themselves for to recover spirits spent. 

5 There gan they change their sides, and new parts 

take ; 
For Paridell did take to Druon's side, 
For old despite which now forth newly brake 
Gainst Blandamour, whom always he envied 2; 
And Blandamour to Claribell relide ^ : 
So all afresh gan former fight renew. 
As when two barks, this carried with the tide. 
That with the wind, contrary courses sew,* 
If wind and tide do change, their courses change 

anew. 

6 Thenceforth they much more furiously gan fare,^' 
As if but then the battle had begun ; 

Ne helmets bright ne hauberks strong did spare. 

That through the clifts ^ the vermeil " blood out-spun. 

And all adown their riven ^ sides did run. 

Such mortaP malice wonder was to see 

In friends professed, and so great outrage done : 

But sooth is said,^^ and tried in each degree,^^ 

Faint friends zvJien they fall out most crnel foernen be. 

1 Unneath, with difficulty. ' Vermeil, vermillion. 

2 Envied, i.e. had a grudge ^ Riven, torn, wounded, 
against. ^ Mortal, deadly. 

^ Relide, joined himself. ^o Sooth is said, i.e. it is truly 

* Sew, pursue. said. 

^ Gan fare, did proceed. ^^ Tried in each degree, experi- 

6 Clifts, openings. enced in every station in life. 



202 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

7 Thus they long while continued in fight ; 
Till Scudamour and that same Briton maid 
By fortune in that place did chance to light : 
Whom soon as they with wrathful eye bewrayed,^ 
They gan remember of the foul upbraid, ^ 

The which that Britoness had to them done 
In that late tourney for the snowy maid ; 
Where she had them both shamefully fordonne,^ 
And eke ^ the famous prize of beauty from them won. 

8 Eftsoones all burning with a fresh desire 
Of fell ^ revenge, in their malicious mood 

They from themselves gan turn their furious ire, 

And cruel blades yet steaming with hot blood 

Against those two let drive, as ^ they were wood ^ : 

Who wond'ring much at that so sudden fit,^ 

Yet nought dismayed, them stoutly well withstood ; 

Ne yielded foot, ne once aback did flit. 

But, being doubly smitten, likewise doubly smit. 

9 The warlike dame was on her part assayed 
Of Claribell and Blandamour attone ^ ; 
And Paridell and Druon fiercely laid 

At Scudamour, both his professed fone ^^ : 
Four charged two, and two surcharged ^^ one ; 

1 Bewrayed, discovered. "* Wood, mad. 

2 Upbraid, injury. ^ Fit, attack. ^ 

3 Fordonne, undone, means ® Attone, at once, 
here, utterly defeated. ^'^ Fone, foes. 

* Eke, also. ^^ Surcharged, attacked with 

^ Fell, fierce. superior force. 

<5 As, as though. 



BRITOMART. 203 

Yet did those two themselves so bravely beare, 
That the other little gainM by the loan, 
But with their own repayed duly weare, 
And usury withal : such gain was gotten deare. 

10 Full oftentimes did Britomart assay 

To speak to them, and some emparlance ^ move ; 
But they for nought their cruel hands would stay, 
Ne lend an ear to ought that might behove ^ : 
As when an eager mastiff once doth prove ^ 
The taste of blood of some engored beast, 
No words may rate,* nor rigour him remove 
From greedy hold of that his bloody feast, — 
So little did they hearken to her sweet beheast.^ 

1 1 Whom when the Briton prince ^ afar beheld 
With odds of so unequal match oppressed, 
His mighty heart with indignation swelled, 
And inward grudge filled his heroic breast : 
Eftsoones himself he to their aid addressed. 
And, thrusting fierce into the thickest preace,^ 
Divided them, however loath to rest ; 

And would them fain from battle to surceasse,^ 
With gentle words persuading them to friendly peace : 

12 But they so far from peace or patience were. 
That all at once at him gan fiercely fly, 

1 Emparlance, parley. * Rate, check by chiding. 

2 That mis^ht beJiove, that was ^ Beheast, behest. 

fitting. 6 Briton prince, Prince Arthur. 

^ Prove, experience. "^ Preace, press. 

8 Surceasse, desist. 



204 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And lay on load, as they him down would bear : 

Like to a storm which hovers under sky, 

Long here and there and round about doth sty,^ 

At length breaks down in rain, and hail, and sleet. 

First, from one coast,^ till nought thereof be dry ; 

And then another, till that likewise fleet ^ ; 

And so from side to side till all the world it weet.^ 

13 But now their forces greatly were decayed,^ 
The prince yet being fresh untouched afore ; 
Who them with speeches mild gan first dissuade 
From such foul outrage, and them long forbore ^ : 
Till, seeing them through suff'rance ' heartned ^ 

more, 
Himself he bent their furies to abate. 
And laid at ^ them so sharply and so sore, 
That shortly them compelled to retrate. 
And being brought in danger to relent too late. 

14 But now his courage being throughly i*^ fired. 

He meant to make them know their folly's prise, ^^ 

Had not those two ^^ him instantly ^^ desired 

T' assuage his wrath, and pardon their mesprise ^* : 

At whose request he gan himself advise 

To stay his hand, and of a truce to treat 

1 Sty, rise. 8 Heartened, encouraged. 

2 Coast, side. ® Laid at, struck at. 

^ Fleet, float. 10 Throtighly, thoroughly. 

* Weet, wet. 11 Prise, price. 

5 Decayed, weakened. 12 Those tivo, i.e. Britomart and 

^ Forbore, kept away from. Scudamour. 

■^ Stifferance, i.e. his patience. ^^ Instantly, urgently. 

1* Mesprise, contempt. 



BRrrOMART. 205 

In milder terms, as list them ^ to devise ; 
Mongst which the cause of their so cruel heat 
He did them ask ; who all that passed gan repeat ; 

I 5 And told at large how that same errant knight, 
To weet,2 fair Britomart, them late had foiled 
In open tourney, and by wrongful fight 
Both of their public praise had them despoiled. 
And also of their private loves beguiled ; 
Of two full hard to read ^ the harder theft. 
But she that wrongful challenge^ soon assoiled,^ 
And shewed that she had not that lady^ reft,^ 
(As they supposed,) but her had to her liking 
left. 

1 6 To whom the prince thus goodly well replied : 
" Certes,^ Sir knights, ye seemen ^ much to blame 
To rip up wrong that battle once hath tried ; 
Wherein the honor both of arms ye shame, 
And eke the love of ladies foul defame ; 
To whom the world this franchise ^^ ever yielded, 
That of their loves' choice they might freedom 

claim, 
And in that right should by all knights be shielded : 
Gainst which, me seems, this war ye wrongfully 

have wielded." ^^ 

6 That lady; that is, the false 
^ List them, they pleased. Florimell. 

2 To weet, to wit. "^ K^ft, taken away. 

3 Read, declare. •* Certes, certainly. 
* Challenge, charge, accusation. ^ Seemen, seem. 

^ Assailed, cleared herself of. i^ Franchise, liberty. 

1^ Wielded, waged. 



206 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

17 "And yet," quoth she, "a greater wrong remains : 
For I thereby my former love have lost ; 

Whom seeking ever since with endless pains 
Hath me much sorrow and much travel ^ cost : 
Aye me, to see that gentle maid so tossed ! " 
But Scudamour then, sighing deep, thus said : 
" Certes her loss ought me to sorrow ^ most, 
Whose right she is, wherever she be strayed. 
Through many perils won, and many fortunes waide' 

18 " For from the first that I her love professed, 
Unto this hour, this present luckless hour, 

I never joyed ^ happiness nor rest ; 

But thus turmoiled^ from one to other stowre^ 

I waste my life, and do my days devour 

In wretched anguish and incessant woe, 

Passing the measure of my feeble power ; 

That, living thus a wretch and loving so, 

I neither can my love ne yet my life forego." 



19 Then good Sir Claribell him thus bespake : 
" Now were it not. Sir Scudamour, to you 
Dislikeful " pain so sad a task to take. 
Mote we^ entreat you, sith this gentle crew^ . 
Is now so well accorded all anew, 

1 Travel, labor. '^ Turmoiled, disquieted. 

2 Sorrow, grieve. ^ Stoivre, disturbance. 

3 Waide, weighed ; esteemed. ^ Dislikeful, disagreeable. 

* Joyed, enjoyed. ^ Mote we, i.e. we should like to. 

^ Gentle crew, noble company. 



BRITOMART. 207 

That, as we ride together on our way, 

Ye will recount to us in order due 

All that adventure which ye did assay 

For that fair lady's love : past perils well appay." ^ 

20 So gan the rest him likewise to require^: 
But Britomart did him importune hard 
To take on him that pain ; whose great desire 
He glad to satisfy, himself prepar'd 
To tell through what misfortune he had far'd 
In that achievement, as to him befell, 
And all those dangers unto them declar'd ; 
Which sith they cannot in this canto well 
Comprised be, I will them in another tell. 

Where Amoret was all this while it is not easy to guess. Doubtles 
Prince Arthur left her in some place of safety while he joined in the 
struggle just described. In the following canto — canto X, book IV 
— Scudamour tells how he gained the hand of his lovely wife. This is 
the last that we hear of Amoret. Had Spenser finished the " Faery 
Queene " we may believe that he would have described the happy 
reunion of this sorely tried pair. 

1 Appay y please, satisfy. 2 Require, request. 



XIV. 

The poet goes back in his 7iarrative to tell of the education of Artegall, 
the knight of Justice. Artegall starts out to deliver Irena from the giant 
Grantorto. After a nujnber of adventures, the young knight frees Sir 
Terpin fro7?i the Amazons and has an encounter with Radigtcrd., the 
Aniazo7tian queen. 

1 Though virtue then were held in highest price, 
In those old times of which I do intreat,^ 

Yet then likewise the wicked seed of vice 
Began to spring ; which shortly grew full great, 
And with their boughs the gentle plants did beat : 
But evermore some of the virtuous race 
Rose up, inspired with heroic heat. 
That cropped the branches of the sient ^ base. 
And with strong hand their fruitful rankness did 
deface. 

2 Such first was Bacchus, that with furious might 
All th' east, before untamed, did overrun. 
And wrong repressed, and established right 
Which lawless men had formerly fordone ^ : 
There Justice first her princely rule begun. 
Next Hercules his like ensample showed. 
Who all the west with equal conquest won. 
And monstrous tyrants with his club subdued ; 
The club of justice dread, with kingly pow'r endued. 

1 Intreal, treat. 2 Sient, scion. 

3 Fordone, destroyed. 



BRITOMART. 209 

3 And such was he of whom I have to tell, 
The champion of true justice, ArtegalP : 
Whom (as ye lately mote remember well) 
An hard adventure, which did then befall 
Into redoubted peril forth did call ; 
That was, to succour a distressed dame 
Whom a strong tyrant did unjustly thrall, ^ 
And from the heritage which she did claim 

Did with strong hand withhold ; Grantorto^ was his 
name. 

4 Wherefore the lady, which Irena ^ hight,^ 
Did to the Faery Queen her way address. 
To whom complaining her afflicted plight, 
She her besought of gracious redress : 

That sovereign queen, that mighty emperesse, 
Whose glory is to aid all suppliants pore,^ 
And of weak princes to be patroness. 
Chose Artegall to right her to restore ; 
For that to her he seemed best skilled in righteous 
lore. 

5 For Artegall in justice was upbrought 
Even from the cradle of his infancy. 

And all the depth of rightful doom " was taught 

1 Artegall. Spenser was secre- ^ T/wall, imprison, 

tary to Arthur, Lord Grey of ^ Grantorto, i.e. great wrong. 

Wilton, Lord Lieutenant of Ire- ^ Irena. Irena, or Irene, is an 

land. The poet was a warm friend anagram of lerne, the ancient name 

and admirer of Lord Grey's, and of Ireland. Church, 
expressed his admiration by por- ^ Hight, was called, 

traying his character in the knight ^ Pore, poor, 

of Justice, Artegall, "^ Doom, judgment. 



210 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

By fair Astraea,^ with great industry, 

Whilst here on earth she lived mortally : 

For, till the world from his perfection fell 

Into all filth and foul iniquity, 

Astraea here mongst earthly men did dwell, 

And in the rules of justice them instructed well. 

6 Whiles through the world she walked in this sort. 
Upon a day she found this gentle child 
Amongst his peers playing his childish sport ; 
Whom seeing fit, and with no crime defiled. 

She did allure with gifts and speeches mild 

To wend with her : so thence him far she brought 

Into a cav^e from company exiled. 

In which she nursled him, till years he raught^; 

And all the discipline of justice there him taught. 

7 There she him taught to weigh both right and wrong 
In equal balance with due recompense, 

And equity to measure out along 

According to the line of conscience, 

Whenso it needs with rigor to dispense : 

Of all the which, for want there of mankind, 

She caused him to make experience 

Upon wild beasts which she in woods did find 

With wrongful pow'r oppressing others of their kind. 

8 Thus she him trained, and thus she him taught 
In all the skill of deeming ^ wrong and right, 

1 Asti-cea, the goddess of Justice ^ Ratight, reached, 

who during the golden age lived ^ Deeming, judging, 

on the earth. 



BRITOMART. 211 

Until the ripeness of man's years he raught ; 
That even wild beasts did fear his awful sight, 
And men admired ^ his over-ruling might ; 
Ne any lived on ground that durst withstand 
His dreadful hest,^ much less him match in fight, 
Or bide the horror of his wreakful^ hand, 
Whenso he list in wrath lift up his steely brand : 

9 Which steely brand, to make him dreaded more. 
She gave unto him, gotten by her sleight* 
And earnest search, where it was kept in store 
In Jove's eternal house, unwist of wight,^ 
Since he himself it used in that great fight 
Against the Titans,*^ that whilom rebelled 
Gainst highest heaven ; Chrysaor ^ it was hight ; 
Chrysaor, that all other swords excelled. 
Well proved in that same day when Jove those 
giants quelled : 

10 For of most perfect metal it was made, 

Temp'red with adamant ^ amongst the same. 
And garnished all with gold upon the blade 
In goodly wise, whereof it took his^ name. 
And was of no less virtue than of fame : 

1 Admired, wondered at. Jupiter after he had wrested the 

'-^ Hest, command. power from his father, Saturn. 
3 Wreakful, avengeful. "^ Chrysaor, i.e. golden sword. 

* Sleight, art, skill. 8 Adamant, a stone supposed to 

^ Utiwist of wight, unbeknown be of impenetrable hardness. The 

to any one. name is not used in modern miner- 

^ That great fight, etc. The Ti- alogy. 

tan's, the old gods, rebelled against ^ His, commonly used for its 

in Spenser's time. 



212 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

For there no substance was so firm and hard, 
But it would pierce or cleave whereso it came ; 
Ne any armour could his dint out-ward ^ ; 
But wheresoever it did light, it throughly shard.^ • 

1 1 Now when the world with sin gan to abound, 
Astraea loathing lenger here to space ^ 

Mongst wicked men, in whom no truth she found, 

Returned to heaven, whence she derived her race * ; 

Where she hath now an everlasting place 

Mongst those twelve signs which nightly we do see 

The heaven's bright-shining baldric^ to enchase^; 

And is the Virgin, sixt in her degree,^ 

And next herself her righteous balance ^ hanging be. 

12 But when she parted hence she left her groom,^ 
An iron man, which did on her attend 
Always, to execute her steadfast doom. 

And willed him with Artegall to wend. 
And do whatever thing he did intend : 
His name was Talus,^^ made of iron mould, 
Immoveable, resistless, without end ; 

^ Could his dint out-ward, i.e. The Virgin signifies the constel- 

could ward off its blow. lation Virgo. August, in which 

^Throughly shard, i.e. cut the sun enters the constellation 

through entirely. Virgo, was the sixth month in 

3 Space, walk. Spenser's time, because from the 

* Whence she derived her race, fourteenth century to the middle 

i.e. where she originated. of the eighteenth, the year began 

^ Baldj'ic, belt worn over one on the 25th of March, 

shoulder. s Balance ; here plural. 

^ Enchase, ornament. ^ Groom, servant. 

" The Virgin, sixt in her degree. ^''^ Talus represents power. 



BRITOMART. 213 

Who in his hand an iron flail did hold, 
With which he threshed out falsehood and did truth 
unfold. 

13 He now went with him in this new inquest,^ 
Him for to aid, if aid he chanced to need, 
Against that cruel tyrant, which oppressed 
The fair Irena with his foul misdeed. 

And kept the crown in which she should succeed : 

While passing on his way, the knight met with several adventures in 
which he gave proof of his bravery and of his good judgment as well. 
He then — 

Departed on his way, as did befall. 

To follow his old quest, the which him forth did call. 

14 So as he travelled upon the way. 

He chanced to come, where happily ^ he spied 

A rout of many people far away ; 

To whom his course he hastily applied,^ 

To weet* the cause of their assemblance wide : 

To whom when he approached near in sight, 

(An uncouth ^ sight,) he plainly then descried 

To be a troop of women, warlike dight,^ 

With weapons in their hands, as ready for a fight : 

1 5 And in the midst of them he saw a knight, 
With both his hands behind him pinnoed ^ hard, 

1 /« this new inquest, on the * Weet, know, 
new quest. 5 Jjncoiith, strange. 

2 Happihy by chance. ^ Warlike dight, arrayed in a 
' Applied, directed. warlike manner. 

"^ Pinnoed, pinioned. 



214 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And round about his neck an halter tight, 

And ready for the gallow tree prepard^ : 

His face was covered, and his head was bar'd, 

That who he was uneath ^ was to descry ; 

And with full heavy heart with them he far'd,^ 

Grieved to the soul, and groaning inwardly, 

That he of women's hands so base a death should die. 

1 6 But they, like tyrants merciless, the more 
Rejoiced at his miserable case. 

And him reviled and reproached sore 

With bitter taunts and terms of vile disgrace. 

Now when as Artegall, arrived in place, 

Did ask what cause brought that man to decay,* 

They round about him gan to swarm apace. 

Meaning on him their cruel hands to lay, 

And to have wrought unwares some villainous assay .^ 

17 But he was soon aware of their ill mind, 
And, drawing back, deceived their intent : 
Yet, though himself did shame on womankind 
His mighty hand to shend,^ he Talus sent 

To wreck "^ on them their folly's hardiment ^ : 

Who with few souses ^ of his iron flail 

Dispersed all their troop incontinent,^^ 

And sent them home to tell a piteous tale 

Of their vain prowess turned to their proper bale.^^ 

1 Prepard, prepared. 6 Shend, disgrace. 

2 Uneath, not easy. "' Wreck, wreak, revenge. 

3 Fared, went. 8 Hardiment, boldness. 
* Decay, destruction. ^ Souses, blows. 

5 Assay, assault. ^^ Incontment, instantly. 

11 Their proper bale, their own sorrow. 



BRITOMART. 215 

1 8 But that same wretched man, ordained to die, 
They left behind them, glad to be so quit : 
Him Talus took out of perplexity, 

And horror of foul death for knight unfit, 

Who more then loss of life ydreaded it ; 

And, him restoring unto living light. 

So brought unto his lord, where he did sit 

Beholding all that womanish weak fight ; 

Whom soon as he beheld he knew, and thus behight^ : 

19 ''Sir Terpin, hapless man, what make you here 2? 
Or have you lost yourself and your discretion. 
That ever in this wretched case ye were ^ ? 

Or have ye yielded you to proud oppression 

Of women's pow'r, that boast of men's subjection? 

Or else what other deadly dismal day 

Is fall'n on you by heaven's hard direction. 

That ye were run so fondly * far astray, 

As for to lead yourself unto your own decay ? " 

20 Much was the man confounded in his mind. 
Partly with shame, and partly with dismay. 
That all astonished he himself did find. 
And little had for his excuse to say, 

But only thus : " Most hapless well ye may 
Me justly term, that to this shame am brought, 
And made the scorn of knighthood this same day : 
But who can scape what his own fate hath wrought ? 
The work of heaven's will surpasseth human thought." 

1 Be/light, addressed. ^ That ever in this xuretched case 

2 What make you here, i.e. what ye were, i.e. that you should have 
are you doing here. got into this wretched plight. 

* Fondly, foolishly. 



216 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

21 "Right true : but faulty men use oftentimes 
To attribute their folly unto fate, 

And lay on heaven the guilt of their own crinies. 
But tell, Sir Terpin, ne let you amate 
Your misery,^ how fell ye in this state ? " 
''Then sith ye needs," quoth he, "will know my 

shame, 
And all the ill which chanced to me of late, 
I shortly will to you rehearse the same. 
In hope you will not turn misfortune to my blame. 

22 " Being desirous (as all knights are wont) 
Through hard adventures deeds of arms to try, 
And after fame and honour for to hunt, 

I heard report that far abroad did fly, 
That a proud amazon did late defy 
All the brave knights that hold of Maidenhead,^ 
And unto them wrought all the villainy 
That she could forge in her malicious head. 
Which some hath put to shame, and many done be 
dead.^ 

23 "The cause, they say, of this her cruel hate. 
Is for the sake of Bellodant the bold, 

To whom she bore most fervent love of late, 
And wooed him by all the ways she could : 
But, when she saw at last that he ne would 
For ought or nought be won unto her will, 

1 Ne let you amate your misery, that acknowledge allegiance to the 
i.e. nor let your misery confound maiden queen, Gloriana. 

you, overwhelm you. ^ Done be dead, i.e. caused to be 

2 That hold of Maidenhead, i.e. put to death. 



BRITOMART. 217 

She turned her love to hatred manifold, 
And for his sake vowed to do all the ill 
Which she could do to knights ; which now she 
doth fulfil. 

24 " For all those knights, the which by force or guile 
She doth subdue, she foully doth entreat ^ : 

First, she doth them of warlike arms despoil, 

And clothe in women weeds 2; and then with threat 

Doth them compel to work, to earn their meat,^ 

To spin, to card, to sew, to wash, to wring ; 

Ne doth she give them other thing to eat 

But bread and water, or like feeble thing ; 

Them to disable from revenge adventuring.^ 

25 "But if through stout disdain of manly mind 
Any her proud observance ^ will withstand, 
Upon that gibbet, which is there behind, 

She causeth them be hanged up out of hand^; 

In which condition I right now did stand : 

For, being overcome by her in fight, 

And put to that base service of her band, 

I rather chose to die in live's despite,^ 

Then lead that shameful life, unworthy of a knight." 

26 " How hight that amazon," said Artegall, 

" And where and how far hence does she abide } " 
"Her name," quoth he, "they Radigund do call, 
A princess of great power and greater pride, 

^ Entreat, treat. ^ Observance, order. 

2 Weeds, garments. ^ Out of hand, forthwith. 

3 Meat, food. ' ' In live's despite, i.e. despising 
* Adventnrin^S^, attempting. life. 



218 THE FAERY QUEENE. • 

And queen of amazons, in arms well tried 
And sundry battles, which she hath achieved 
With great success, that her hath glorified, 
And made her famous, more then is believed ; 
Ne would I it have weened ^ had I not late it 
prieved.2" 

27 "Now, sure," said he, "and by the faith that I 
To Maidenhead 2 and noble knighthood owe, 

I will not rest till I her might do try, 

And venge* the shame that she to knights doth 

show. 
Therefore, Sir Terpin, from you lightly throw 
This squalid weed,^ the pattern of despair. 
And wend with me, that ye may see and know 
How fortune will your ruined name repair 
And knights of Maidenhead, whose praise she would 

impair." 

28 With that, like one that hopeless was repryved ^ 
From deathes door at which he lately lay, 
Those iron fetters with which he was gyved,^ 
The badges of reproach, he threw away, 

And nimbly did him dight ^ to guide the way 

Unto the dwelling of that amazone : 

Which was from thence not past a mile or tway,^ 

A goodly city and a mighty one. 

The which, of her own name, she called Radegone. 

1 Weened, believed. ^ Weed, garment. 

2 Prieved, proved. ^ Repryved, reprieved. 

3 Maidenhead, maidenhood ; i.e. "^ Gyved, fettered. 
Gloriana. ^ Dight, make ready. 

4 Venge, revenge. ® Tway, two. 



BRITOMART. 219 

29 Where they arriving by the watchman were 
Descried straight ; who all the city warned 
How that three warlike persons did appear, 

Of which the one him seemed a knight all armed, 
And th' other two well likely to have harmed. 
Eftsoones ^ the people all to harness ran, 
And like a sort ^ of bees in clusters swarmed : 
Ere long their queen herself, half like a man. 
Came forth into the rout, and them t' array ^ began. 

30 And now the knights, being arrived near, 
Did beat upon the gates to enter in ; 
And at the porter, scorning them so few. 
Threw many threats, if they the town did win, 
To tear his flesh in pieces for his sin : 
Which when as Radigund there coming heard. 
Her heart for rage did grate,^ and teeth did grin^ : 
She bade that straight the gate should be unbarred, 
And to them way to make with weapons well prepard. 

3 1 Soon as the gates were open to them set. 
They pressed forward, entrance to have made : 
But in the middle way they were ymet 

With a sharp shower of arrows, which them stayed 
And better bade advise,^ ere they assayed 
Unknowen peril of bold women's pride. 
Then all that rout upon them rudely laid, 

1 Eftsoones, immediately. * Did grate, became irritated, 

2 Sort, company, swarm. enraged. 

^T' array, to draw up, ready ^ T'^r-?/'// o'/V/^r/;/, />. she showed 

for battle. her teeth as if grinning with rage. 

^ Advise, consider. 



220 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And heaped strokes so fast on every side, 
And arrows hailed so thick, that they could not 
abide. 

32 But Radigund herself, when she espied 
Sir Terpin, from her direful doom acquit, 
So cruel dole amongst her maids divide,^ 

T' avenge that shame they did on him commit, 
All suddenly enflamed with furious fit, 
Like a fell lioness at him she flew. 
And on his head-piece him so fiercely smit. 
That to the ground him quite she overthrew, 
Dismayed so with the stroke that he no colours 
knew. 2 

33 Soon as she saw him on the ground to grovel, 
She lightly to him leapt ; and, in his neck 
Her proud foot setting, at his head did level, 
Weening at once her wrath on him to wreak. 
And his contempt, that did her judgment break : 
As when a bear hath seized ^ her cruel claws 
Upon the carcass of some beast too weak. 
Proudly stands over, and awhile doth pause 

To hear the piteous beast pleading her plaintiffe 
cause. 

34 Whom when as Artegall in that distress 

By chance beheld, he left the bloody slaughter 
In which he swam, and ran to his redress : 

1 So cruel dole amongst her ^ He no colours knew, i.e every- 

maids divide, i.e. bringing such thing looked dark to him. 
suffering upon her maids. ^ Seized, fastened. 



BRITOMART. 221 

There her assailing fiercely fresh, he raught ^ her 
Such an huge stroke, that it of sense distraught ^ 

her ; 
And, had she not it warded warily. 
It had deprived her mother of a daughter : 
Nathless for all the pow'r she did apply 
It made her stagger oft, and stare with ghastly eye. 

35 Like to an eagle, in his kingly pride 
Soaring through his wide empire of the air. 

To weather^ his broad sails, by chance hath spied 
A goshawk, which hath seized for her share 
Upon some fowl, that should her feast prepare ; 
With dreadful force he flies at her bylive,^ 
That with his souse,^ which none enduren dare, 
Her from the quarry ^ he away doth drive. 
And from her griping pounce the greedy prey doth 
rive.'^ 

36 But, soon as she her sense recovered had, 
She fiercely towards him herself gan dight,^ 
Through vengeful wrath and 'sdainful pride half 

mad ; 
For never had she suff 'red such despite : 
But, ere she could join hand with him to fight, 
Her warlike maids about her flocked so fast, 
That they disparted them, maugre^ their might, 

1 Raiighty dealt. ^ Souse, sudden swoop. 

2 Distraught, deprived. 6 Quarry, prey. 

2 Weather, air. "^ Rive, tear away. 

* Bylive, quickly. ^ Q^n dight, began to prepare. 

^ Maugre, in spite of. 



222 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And with their troops did far asunder cast : 

But mongst the rest the fight did until evening last. 

37 And every while that mighty iron man 

With his strange weapon, never wont ^ in war, 
Them sorely vexed, and coursed, and overran. 
And broke their bows, and did their shooting mar. 
That none of all the many once did darre 
Him to assault, nor once approach him nigh ; 
But like a sort ^ of sheep dispersed far, 
For dread of their devouring enemy. 
Through all the fields and valleys did before him fly. 

38 But whenas day's fair shiny beam, yclouded 
With fearful shadows of deformed night, 
Warned man and beast in quiet rest be shrouded, 
Bold Radigund, with sound of trump on hight,^ 
Caused all her people to surcease * from fight ; 
And, gathering them unto her city's gate. 
Made them all enter in before her sight ; 

And all the wounded, and the weak in state. 
To be conveyed in, ere she would once retrate. 

39 When thus the field was voided ^ all away, 
And all things quieted, the elfin knight,^ 
Weary of toil and travel of that day. 
Caused his pavilion to be richly pight ^ 

1 Wont, used. ^ Voided, cleared. 

2 Sort, company, flock. ^ Elfin knight, i.e. faery knight, 

3 C>« >^/^///, aloud. because he serves the Faery 
* Surcease, cease entirely. Queen. 

■^ Pight, pitched. 



BRITOMART. 223 

Before the city gate, in open sight ; 

Where he himself did rest in safety, 

Together with Sir Terpin, all that night : 

But Talus used, in times of jeopardy, 

To keep a nightly watch for dread of treachery. 

40 But Radigund, full of heart-gnawing grief 
For the rebuke which she sustained that day, 
Could take no rest, ne would receive relief ; 
But tossed in her troublous mind what way 
She mote revenge that blot which on her lay. 
There she resolved herself in single fight 

To try her fortune, and his force assay. 

Rather then see her people spoiled quite. 

As she had seen that day, a disaventerous ^ sight. 

41 She called forth to her a trusty maid. 
Whom she thought fittest for that business, 
(Her name was Clarin,) and thus to her said : 
" Go, damsel, quickly, do thyself address ^ 
To do the message which I shall express. 

Go thou unto that stranger faery knight, 

Who yesterday drove us to such distress ; 

Tell that tomorrow I with him will fight. 

And try in equal field whether ^ hath greater might. 

42 " But these conditions do to him propound ; 
That, if I vanquish him, he shall obey 

My law, and ever to my lore ^ be bound ; 
And so will I, if me he vanquish may, 

1 Disaventerous, unhappy. 3 Whether, which of the two. 

2 Address, make ready. * Lore, command. 



224 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Whatever he shall like to do or say : 
Go straight, and take with thee to witness it 
Six of thy fellows of the best array, 
And bear with you both wine and junkets ^ fit, 
And bid him eat : henceforth he oft shall hungry 
sit." 

43 The damsel straight ^ obeyed : and, putting all 
In readiness, forth to the town-gate went ; 
Where, sounding loud a trumpet from the wall, 
Unto those warlike knights she warning sent. 
Then Talus, forth issuing from the tent. 
Unto the wall his way did fearless take. 

To weeten ^ what that trumpet's sounding meant : 
Where that same damsel loudly him bespake, 
And showed that with his lord she would empar- 
lance ^ make. 

44 So he them straight conducted to his lord ; 
Who, as he could, them goodly well did greet. 
Till they had told their message word by word : 
Which he accepting well, as he could weet,^ 
Them fairly entertained with curt'sies meet, 
And gave them gifts and things of dear delight. 
So back again they homeward turned their feet ; 
But Artegall himself to rest did dight,^ 



That he mote \ 


fresher 


be against the next day's 


fight. 






1 Junkets, sweetmeats. 




* Emparlance, parley. 


2 Straight, straightway. 




^ As he could weet, as he knew 


8 To weeten, to learn. 




how. 




6 Dight, 


prepare. 



XV. 



Artegall meets Radigtind in single combat and yields himself her 
vassal. His degradatioti. 

1 So soon as day forth dawning from the east 
Night's humid curtain from the heavens withdrew, 
And early caUing forth both man and beast, 
Commanded them their daily works renew ; 
These noble warriors, mindful to pursue 

The last day's purpose of their vowed fight, 
Themselves thereto prepared in order due ; 
The knight, as best was seeming for a knight. 
And th' amazon, as best it liked herself to dight ^ : 

2 All in a camis ^ light of purple silk 
Woven upon with silver, subtly wrought, 
And quilted upon satin white as milk ; 
Trailed with ribbons diversely distraught,^ 
Like as the workman had their courses taught ; 
Which was short tucked for light motion 

Up to her ham ^ ; but, when she list,^ it raught ^ 

Down to her lowest heel, and thereupon 

She wore for her defence a mailed habergeon." 

^ As best it liked herself to dight, distraught, i.e. vi'iWx ribbons run- 

i.e. as she liked best to array her- ning over it in different directions, 
self. "* Ham, thigh. 

2 Camis, a loose robe. ^ List, pleased. 

3 Trailed with ribbojis diversely '^ Raught, reached. 

■^ Habergeon, sleeveless coat of mail. 



226 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

3 And on her legs she painted buskins ^ wore, 
Basted with bands of gold ^ on every side, 
And mails ^ between, and laced close afore ; 
Upon her thigh her scimitar was tied 
With an embroidered belt of mickle pride*; 
And on her shoulder hung her shield, bedecked 
Upon the boss^ with stones that shined wide. 
As the fair moon in her most full aspect ; 

That to the moon it mote be like in each respect. 

4 So forth she came out of the city-gate 
With stately port and proud magnificence, 
Guarded with many damsels that did wait 
Upon her person for her sure defence, " 

Playing on shawms ^ and trumpets, that from hence 
Their sound did reach unto the heaven's height : 
So forth into the field she marched thence, 
Where was a rich pavilion ready pight 
Her to receive, till time they should begin the fight. 

5 Then forth came Artegall out of his tent, 

All armed to point,' and first the lists did enter : 
Soon after eke ^ came she with full intent 
And countenance fierce, as having fully bent her 
That battle's utmost trial to adventer.^ 

'^Buskins, coverings for the ^ Belt of mickie pride, i.e. 2inc\\, 

feet, coming some distance up the showy belt, 
leg. 5 Boss, any protuberant part. 

- Basted rvith bands of gold, i.e. ^ Shatvms, pipes, 

with bands of gold sewed on. '* To poitit, i.e. at all points, 

2 Mails, metal rings interlinked. completely. 

^ Eke, likewise. 
^ Adveuter, try. 



BRITOMART. Ill 

The lists were closed fast, to bar the rout 
From rudely pressing on the middle centre ; 
Which in great heaps them circled all about, 
Waiting how fortune would resolve that dangerous 
doubt.i 

6 The trumpets sounded, and the field ^ began ; 
With bitter strokes it both began and ended. 
She at the first encounter on him ran 

With furious rage, as if she had intended 
Out of his breast the very heart have rended : 
But he, that had like tempests often tried. 
From that first flaw himself right well defended. 
The more she raged, the more he did abide : 
She hewed, she foined,^ she lashed, she laid on 
every side. 

7 Yet still her blows he bore, and her forbore. 
Weening at last to win advantage new ; 
Yet still her cruelty increased more, 

And, though pow'r failed, her courage did accrue*; 

Which failing, he gan fiercely her pursue : 

Like as a smith that to his cunning feat 

The stubborn metal seeketh to subdue, 

Soon as he feels it mollified with heat. 

With his great iron sledge doth strongly on it beat. 

8 So did Sir Artegall upon her lay. 

As if she had an iron andvile ^ been, • 

1 Dangerous doubt., i.e. doubtful ^ Foined, thrust, 
contest. 4 Accrue, increase. 

2 Field, battle. ^ Andvile, anvil. 



228 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

That flakes of fire, bright as the sunny ray, 
Out of her steely arms were flashing seen. 
That all on fire ye would her surely ween : 
But with her shield so well herself she warded 
From the dread danger of his weapon keen. 
That all that while her life she safely guarded ; 
But he that help from her against her will discarded : 

9 For with his trenchant blade at the next blow 
Half of her shield he shared ^ quite away, 
That half her side itself did naked show. 
And thenceforth unto danger opened way. 
Much was she moved with the mighty sway 
Of that sad 2 stroke, that half enraged she grew ; 
And like a greedy bear unto her prey 
With her sharp scimitar at him she flew. 
That glancing down his thigh the purple blood 
forth drew. 

10 Thereat she gan to triumph with great boast, 
And to upbraid that chance which him misfell. 
As if the prize she gotten had almost, 

With spiteful speeches, fitting with her well ; 

That his great heart gan inwardly to swell 

With indignation at her vaunting vain, 

And at her strook with puissance fearful fell ^ ; 

Yet with her shield she warded it again. 

That shattered all to pieces round about the plain. 

1 1 Having her thus disarmed of her shield. 
Upon her helmet he again her strook, 

1 Shared, cut. ^ Sad, heavy. ^ /r^//^ fierce. 



BRITOMART. 11^ 

That down she fell upon the grassy field 
In senseless swoon, as if her life forsook, 
And pangs of death her spirit overtook : 
Whom when he saw before his foot prostrated, 
He to her leapt with deadly dreadful look, 
And her sun-shiny helmet soon unlaced. 
Thinking at once both head and helmet to have 
raced. ^ 

12 But, whenas he discovered had her face, 
He saw, his senses' strange astonishment, 
A miracle of nature's goodly grace 

In her fair visage void of ornament, 
But bathed in blood and sweat together ment^; 
Which, in the rudeness of that evil plight, 
Bewrayed ^ the signs of feature excellent : 
Like as the moon, in foggy winter's night. 
Doth seem to be herself, though dark'ned be her 
light. 

1 3 At sight thereof his cruel minded heart 
Empierced was with pitiful regard, 

That his sharp sword he threw from him apart, 

Cursing his hand that had that visage marred : 

No hand so cruel, nor no heart so hard. 

But ruth * of beauty will it mollify. 

By this, upstarting from her swoon she star'd 

A while about her with confused eye ; 

Like one that from his dream is waked suddenly. 

1 Raced, razed, cut off. 3 Bewrayed, revealed. 

2 Ment, mingled. ■♦ Ruth, pity. 



230 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

14 Soon as the knight she there by her did spy 
Standing with empty hands all weaponless, 
With fresh assault upon him she did fly, 
And gan renew her former cruelness : 
And though he still retired, yet natheless 
With huge redoubled strokes she on him laid ; 
And more increased her outrage merciless, 
The more that he with meek entreaty prayed 

Her wrathful hand from greedy vengeance to have 
stayed. 

1 5 Nought could he do but shun the dread despite 
Of her fierce wrath, and backward still retire ; 
And with his single shield,^ well as he might, 
Bear off the burden of her raging ire ; 

And evermore he gently did desire 

To stay her strokes, and he himself would yield ; 

Yet nould she heark,^ ne let him once respire, 

Till he to her delivered had his shield, 

And to her mercy him submitted in plain ^ field. 

16 So was he overcome ; not overcome, 
But to her yielded of his own accord ; 
Yet was he justly damned* by the doom^ 

Of his own mouth, that spake so wareless^ word, 
To be her thrall and service her afford : 
For though that he first victory obtained, 
Yet after, by abandoning his sword, 

1 His single shield, his shield ^ Plain, open. 

alone. ^ Damned, condemned. 

2 Yet nojild she heark, yet she ^ Doom, judgment, 
would not hearken. ^ Wareless, unwary. 



BRirOMART. 231 

He wilful lost that he before attained : 
No fairer conquest then that ^ with good will is 
gained. 

17 Tho with her sword on him she flatling strook, 
In sign of true subjection to her povv'r, 

And as her vassal him to thraldom took : 
But Terpin, born to 'a more unhappy hour, 
As he on whom the luckless stars did lower,^ 
She caused to be attached and forthwith led 
Unto the crook,^ t' abide the baleful stowre * 
From which he lately had through rescue fled : 
Where he full shamefully was hanged by the head. 

18 But, when they thought on Talus hands to lay. 
He with his iron flail amonst them thondred. 
That they were fain to let him scape away. 
Glad from his company to be so sondred ; 
Whose presence all their troops so much encombred. 
That th' heaps of those which he did wound and 

slay, 
Besides the rest dismayed,^ might not be nombred : 
Yet all that while he would not once assay 
To rescue his own lord, but thought it just t' obey. 

19 Then took the amazon this noble knight. 
Left to her will by his own wilful blame. 



1 Then that, i.e. than that which. widespread in and before Spenser's 

'■^ As he on whom, etc. The time, 
belief in astrology — in the influ- ' Crook (crux), gibbet, 

ence of the heavenly bodies upon < Balefnl stowre, i.e. sad fate. 

the individual human life — was ^ Z>w«^/^^, here, disabled. 



232 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And caused him to be disarmed quite 
Of all the ornaments of knightly name, 
With which whilom he gotten had great fame : 
Instead whereof she made him to be dight ^ 
In woman's weeds, that is to manhood shame, 
And put before his lap a napron ^ white. 
Instead of curiets ^ and bases ^ fit for fight. 

20 So being clad, she brought him from the field, 
In which he had been trained many a day. 
Into a long large chamber, which was ceiled 
With moniments^ of many knights' decay ^ 
By her subdued in victorious fray : 

Amongst the which she caused his warlike arms 
Be hanged on high, that mote his shame bewray^; 
And broke his sword for fear of further harms, 
With which he wont to stir up battailous ^ alarms. 

21 There ent'red in, he round about him saw 

Many brave knights whose names right well he 

knew, 
There bound t' obey that amazon's proud law, 
Spinning and carding all in comely rew,^ 
That his big heart loathed so uncomely view : 
But they were forced through penury ^^ and pine,^^ 

1 Dight, arrayed. ^ Decay, destruction. 

2 Napron, apron. ' Bewray, reveal. 

' Curiets, cuirasses. ^ Battailous, warlike. 

* Bases, a kind of petticoats ^ Rew, row. 

worn by knights on horseback. ^"^ Penury, i.e. want of food. 

^ Moniments, monuments, re- ^^ Pine, torment, woe. 
minders of some kind. 



BRITOMART. 233 

To do those works to them appointed due : 
For nought was given them to sup or dine, 
But what their hands could earn by twisting linen 
twine. 

22 Amongst them all she placed him most low, 
And in his hand a distaff to him gave. 

That he thereon should spin both flax and tow ; 

A sordid office for a mind so brave : 

So hard it is to be a woman's slave ! 

Yet he it took in his own self's despite,^ 

And thereto did himself right well behave ^ 

Her to obey, sith he his faith had plight 

Her vassal to become, if she him won in fight. 

23 Who had seen him, imagine mote thereby 
That whilom 3 hath of Hercules been told, 
How for Tola's sake* he did apply 

His mighty hands the distaff vile to hold 
For ^ his huge club, which had subdued of old 
So many monsters which the world annoyed ; 
His lion's skin changed to a pall ^ of gold. 
In which, forgetting wars, he only joyed 
In combats of sweet love, and with his mistress 
toyed. 

1 In his own sdfs despite, i.e. beloved of Hercules. In order to 
in defiance or contempt of his own win lole, Hercules served Om- 
inclination. phale, queen of Lydia ; and while 

2 Behave, apply. serving her he dressed as a woman 
^ Whilom, formerly. and did a woman's work. 

* Zola's sake. lole, the daughter ^ For, in place of. 

of Eurytus, king of CEchalia, was ^ Pall, mantle. 



234 ' THE FAERY QUEENE. 

24 Such is the cruelty of womenkind, 

When they have shaken off the shamefast ^ band, 

With which wise nature did them strongly bind 

T' obey the bests ^ of man's well-ruling hand, 

That then all rule and reason they withstand 

To purchase a licentious liberty : 

But virtuous women wisely understand, 

That they were born to base humility,^ 

Unless the heavens them lift to lawful sovereignty.^ 

25 Thus there long while continued Artegall, 
Serving proud Radigund with true subjection : 
However it his noble heart did gall 

T' obey a woman's tyrrannous direction. 
That might have had of life or death election : 
But, having chosen, now he might not change. 



To add to Artegall's discomfort, his mistress conceived a liking for 
her noble captive and used every means at her command to gain his 
affection. Her maid Clarinda also persecuted him with her attentions. 
However, steadfast in his love for Britomart, the knight withstood both 
threats and entreaties, and endured in stubborn patience his hard lot. 

1 Shamefast, modest. * Unless tJie heavens them, etc. 

2 Hests, commands. Spenser wisely makes an exception 

3 Base humility, humble sub- in favor of female sovereigns. 
ordination. 



XVI. 

Informed by Tahis, ArtegaWs servant, of his master'' s sad plight^ 
Britomart sets ont to deliver her lover. The treachery of Dolon and 
Britomart'^s coin bat with his sons. 

1 Some men, I wote, will deem in Artegall 
Great weakness, and report of him much ill, 
For yielding so himself a wretched thrall 
To th' insolent command of women's will ; 
That all his former praise doth foully spill ^ : 
But he, the man that say or do so dare. 

Be well advised that he stand steadfast still ; 

For never yet was wight so well aware, 

But he at first or last was trapped in women's snare. 

2 Yet in the straitness ^ of that captive state 
This gentle^ knight himself so well behaved. 
That notwithstanding all the subtile* bait, 
With which those amazons his love still craved, 
To his own love his loyalty he saved : 
Whose character^ in th' adamantine mould ^ 
Of his true heart so firmly was engraved. 
That no new love's impression ever could 
Bereave it *" thence : such blot his honour blemish 

should. 

^ Spilly spoil. ^ Character, image. 

2 Straitness, n a r r o w n e s s, re- ^ Th"* adamantine mould, the 

straint. adamantine (or extremely hard) 

8 Gentle, high-born, noble. substance. 

* Stibtile, sly, artful. "^ Bereave it, take it away from. 



236 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

3 Yet his own love, the noble Britomart, 
Scarce so conceived in her jealous thought, 
What time sad tidings of his baleful smart 
In woman's bondage Talus to her brought ; 
Brought in untimely hour, ere it was sought : 
For, after that the utmost date assigned 

For his return she waited had for nought, 

She gan to cast ^ in her misdoubtf ul ^ mind 

A thousand fears, that love-sick fancies fain ^ to find. 

4 Sometime she feared lest some hard mishap 
Had him misfall'n in his adventurous quest ; 
Sometime lest his false foe did him entrap 

In traitrous traine,^ or had unawares opprest ; 

But most she did her troubled mind molest. 

And secretly afflict with jealous fear, 

Lest some new love had him from her possessed ; 

Yet loath she was, since she no ill did hear, 

To think of him so ill ; yet could she not forbear. 

5 One while she blamed herself ; another while 
She him condemned as trustless and untrue : 
And then, her grief with error to beguile. 
She fained to count the time again anew. 

As if before she had not counted true : 
For hours, but days ; for weeks that passed were, 
She told but months, to make them seem more few : 
Yet, when she reck'ned them still drawing near, 
Each hour did seem a month, and every month a year. 

^ Cast, plan. 3 Pain, pretend. 

2 Misdotibtful, apprehensive. * Traine, snare. 



BRITOMART. 237 

6 But, when as yet she saw him not return, 

She thought to send some one to seek him out ; 
But none she found so fit to serve that turn 
As her own self, to ease herself of doubt. 
Now she devised, amongst the warlike rout 
Of errant knights, to seek her errant knight ; 
And then again resolved to hunt him out 
Amongst loose ladies lapped in delight : 
And then both knights envied,^ and ladies eke did 
spite. 

7 One day whenas she long had sought for ease 
In every place, and every place thought best, 
Yet found no place that could her liking please, 
She to a window came, that opened west, 
Towards which coast her love his way addressed 
There looking forth she in her heart did find 
Many vain fancies working her unrest ; 

And sent her winged thoughts more swift than wind 
To bear unto her love the message of her mind. 

8 There as she looked long, at last she spied 
One coming towards her with hasty speed ; 
Well weened she then, ere him she plain descried, 
That it was one sent from her love indeed : 
Who when he nigh approached, she mote aread ^ 
That it was Talus, Artegall his groom ^ : 
Whereat her heart was filled with hope and dread ; 

1 Envied, felt a grudge against, 8 Artegall his groo?n, i.e. Arte- 
hated. gall's servant. 

2 Mote aread, could perceive. 



238 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Ne would she stay till he in place could come, 
But ran to meet him forth to know his tidings' sum. 

9 Even in the door him meeting, she begun : 
" And where is he thy lord, and how far hence ? 
Declare at once : and hath he lost or won ? " 
The iron man, albe he wanted sense 
And sorrow's feeling, yet, with conscience^ 
Of his ill news, did inly chill and quake, 
And stood still mute, as one in great suspense ; 
As if that by his silence he would make 
Her rather read his meaning then himself it spake.^ 

10 Till she again thus said : "Talus, be bold. 
And tell whatever it be, good or bad, 

That from thy tongue thy heart's intent doth hold." 
To whom he thus at length : " The tidings sad, 
That I would hide, will needs, I see, be rad.^ 
My lord, your love, by hard mishap doth lie 
In wretched bondage, wofully bestad."* 
"Ay me," quoth she, " what wicked destiny ! 
And is he vanquished by his tyrant enemy t " 

11 " Not by that tyrant, his intended foe^; 
But by a tyranness," he then replied, 
"That him captived hath in hapless woe." 

" Cease, thou bad news-man ; badly dost thou hide 
Thy master's shame, ..... 



^ Conscience, consciousness. * Bestad, bestead, beset. 

'^ Then himself it spake, than '^ His ijite?tded foe, i.e. Gx2intoxto 

himself' disclose it. from whose power he was to re- 

^ Rod, uttered. lease Irena. 



BRITOMART. 239 

With that in rage she turned from him aside, 
Forcing in vain the rest to her to tell ; 
And to her chamber went like solitary cell. 

12 There she began to make her moanful plaint 
Against her knight for being so untrue ; 

And him to touch with falsehood's foul attaint, 
That all his other honour overthrew. 
Oft did she blame herself, and often rue,^ 
For yielding to a stranger's love so light, 
Whose life and manners strange she never knew; 
And evermore she did him sharply twight^ 
For breach of faith to her, which he had firmly 
plight. 

1 3 And then she in her wrathful will did cast 
How to revenge that blot of honour blent,^ 
To fight with him, and goodly die her last : 
And then again she did herself torment, 
Inflicting on herself his punishment. 

Awhile she walked, and chauf t * ; awhile she threw 
Herself upon her bed and did lament : 
Yet did she not lament with loud alew, ^ 
As women wont, but with deep sighs and singulfs ^ 
few. 

14 Like as a wayward child, whose sounder sleep 
Is broken with some fearful dream's affright. 
With froward " will doth set himself to weep, 

1 Rtie, grieve, repent. * Chaiift, chafed. 

2 Twig/it, twit, reproach. ^ Alew, halloo, outcry. 

^ Blent, stained. ^ Singulfs, singults, sobs. 

"' Froward, perverse. 



240 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Ne can be stilled for all his nurse's might, 
But kicks, and squalls, and shrieks, for fell despite ^ ; 
Now scratching her, and her loose locks misusing, 
Now seeking darkness, and now seeking light. 

Such was this lady's fit ^ in her love's fond ^ accus- 
ing. 

15 But when she had with such unquiet fits 
Herself there close* afflicted long in vain. 
Yet found no easement in her troubled wits, 
She unto Talus forth returned again, 

By change of place seeking to ease her pain ; 
And gan enquire of him with milder mood 
The certain cause of Artegall's detain,^ 
And what he did, and in what state he stood, 
And whether he did woo, or whether he were 
wooed. 

16 "Ah wellaway ! " said then the iron man, 
" That he is not the while in state to woo ; 
But lies in wretched thraldom, weak and wan. 
Not by strong hand compelled thereunto. 
But his own doom ^ that none can now undo." 
"Said I not then," quoth she, " ere-while aright. 
That this is thing compact betwixt you two. 
Me to deceive of faith unto me plight. 

Since that he was not forced, nor overcome in 
fight?" 

1 Fell despite, fierce vexation. * Close, secretly. 

2 Fit, state of mind, mood. ^ Detain, detention. 

3 Fond, foolish. ^ Doom, judgment. 



BRITOMART. 241 

17 With that he gan at large to her dilate 
The whole discourse of his captivance sad, 
In sort as ye have heard the same of late : 
All which when she with hard endurance had 
Heard to the end, she was right sore bestad, 
With sudden stounds ^ of wrath and grief attone ^ ; 
Ne would abide, till she had answer made ; 

But straight herself did dight,^ and armour don, 
And mounting to her steed bade Talus guide 
her on. 

18 So forth she rode upon her ready way. 

To seek her knight, as Talus her did guide : 
Sadly she rode, and never word did say 
Nor good nor bad, ne ever looked aside. 
But still right down ; and in her thought did hide 
The fellness^ of her heart, right fully bent 
To fierce avengement of that woman's pride. 
Which had her lord in her base prison pent. 
And so great honour with so foul reproach had 
blent.^ 

19 So as she thus melancholic did ride, 
Chawing the cud of grief and inward pain, 
She chanced to meet toward the eventide 
A knight, that softly paced on the plain. 
As if himself to solace he were fain ; 

Well shot^ in years he seemed, and rather bent 
To peace then needless trouble to constrain ; 

1 Stounds, paroxysms. * Fellness, fierceness, anger. 

2 Attone, at once. ^ Blent, stained. 

^ Dight, prepare. ^ Shot, shot up, grown up. 



242 THE FAERY QUE EN E. 

As well by view of that his vestiment, 

As by his modest semblant, that no evil meant. 

20 He coming near gan gently her salute 

With courteous words, in the most comely wise ; 
Who though desirous rather to rest mute, 
Then terms to entertain of common guise, 
Yet rather then she kindness would despise. 
She would herself displease, so him requite. 
Then gan the other further to devise 
Of things abroad, as next to hand did light. 
And many things demand, to which she answered 
light: 

21 For little lust ^ had she to talk of ought, 
Or ought to hear that mote delightful be ; 
Her mind was whole possessed of one thought. 
That gave none other place. Which when as he 
By outward signs (as well he might) did see. 

He list no lenger to use loathful speech. 
But her besought to take it well in gree,^ 
Sith shady damp had dimmed the heaven's reach, ^ 
To lodge with him that night, unless good cause 
empeach.* 

22 The championess, now seeing night at door. 
Was glad to yield unto his good request ; 
And with him went without gainsaying more. 
Not far away, but little wide ^ by west, 

1 Lust, inclination. ^ Reach, extent. 

2 In gree, in liking. * Empeach, prevent. 

s Wide, aside. 



BRITOMART. 243 

His dwelling was, to which he him addressed ; 
Where soon arriving, they received were 
In seemly wise, as them beseemed best ; 
For he their host them goodly well did cheer, 
And talked of pleasant things the night away to 
wear. 

23 Thus passing th' evening well, till time of rest, 
Then Britomart unto a bow'r ^ was brought ; 
Where grooms awaited her to have undressed : 
But she ne would undressed be for ought, 

Ne doff her arms, though he her much besought : 
For she had vowed, she said, not to forego 
Those warlike weeds,^ till she revenge had wrought 
Of a late wrong upon a mortal foe ; 
Which she would sure perform, betide her weal or 
woe. 

24 Which when their host perceived, right discontent 
In mind he grew, for fear lest by that art ^ 

He should his purpose miss, which close he meant* : 
Yet, taking leave of her, he did depart : 
There all that night remained Britomart, 
Restless, recomfortless, with heart deep-grieved, 
Not suffering the least twinkling sleep to start 
Into her eye, which th' heart mote have relieved ; 
But if the least appeared, her eyes she straight 
reprieved.^ 

1 Bower, chamber. * Close he meant, secretly he 

2 Weeds, garments. proposed. 

3 Art, way, means. ^ Reprieved, reproved. 



244 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

25 "Ye guilty eyes," said she, "the which with guile 
My heart at first betrayed, will ye betray 

My life now too, for which a little while 
Ye will not watch? False watches, wellaway ! 
I wote ^ when ye did watch both night and day 
Unto your loss ; and now needs will ye sleep? 
Now ye have made my heart to wake alway, 
Now will ye sleep ? ah ! wake, and rather weep 
To think of your night's ^ want, that should ye 
waking keep." 

26 Thus did she watch, and wear the weary night 
In wailful plaints, that none was to appease ; 
Now walking soft, now sitting still upright, 
As sundry change her seemed best to ease. 
Ne less did Talus suffer sleep to seize 

His eyelids sad,^ but watched continually, 
Lying without her door in great disease * ; 
Like to a spaniel waiting carefully 
Lest any should betray his lady treacherously. 

27 What time the native bellman of the night. 
The bird that warned Peter of his fall. 

First rings his silver bell t' each sleepy wight, 
That should their minds up to devotion call. 
She heard a wondrous noise below the hall : 
All suddenly the bed, where she should lie. 
By a false trap was let adown to fall 

1 / zvote, I know. ^ Sad, heavy. 

'^Night's, should perhaps be * Z>/.5-^aj<?, uneasiness, 

knight's. 



BRITOMART. 245 

Into a lower room, and by and by 
The loft 1 was raised again, that ^ no man could it 
spy. 

28 With sight whereof she was dismayed right sore. 
Perceiving well the treason which was meant : 
Yet stirred not at all for doubt ^ of more. 

But kept her place with courage confident, 
Waiting what would ensue of that event. 
It was not long before she heard the sound 
Of armed men coming with close intent 
Towards her chamber ; at which dreadful stound * 
She quickly caught her sword, and shield about her 
bound. 

29 With that there came unto her chamber door 
Two knights all armed ready for to fight ; 
And after them full many other more, 

A rascal rout,^ with weapons rudely dight ^ : 
Whom soon as Talus spied by glims "^ of night. 
He started up, there where on ground he lay, 
And in his hand his thresher ready keight ^ : 
They, seeing that, let drive at him straightway. 
And round about him press in riotous array. 

30 But, soon as he began to lay about 
With his rude iron flail, they gan to fly. 
Both armed knights and eke unarmed rout : 

1 Loft, flooring. s Rascal rout, base multitude. 

2 That, so that. 6 Dight ^ furnished, armed. 
' Doubt, fear, dread. "^ Glims, gleams. 

* Stound, exigency. ^ JCdght, caught. 



246 * THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Yet Talus after them apace did ply, 

Wherever in the dark he could them spy ; 

That here and there like scatt'red sheep they lay. 

Then, back returning where his dame did lie, 

He to her told the story of that fray. 

And all that treason there intended did bewray. ^ 

31 Wherewith though wondrous wroth, and inly burn- 

ing 
To be avenged for so foul a deed. 
Yet, being forced to abide the day's returning. 
She there remained ; but with right wary heed, 
Lest any more such practice ^ should proceed. 
Now mote ye know (that which to Britomart 
Unknowen was) whence all this did proceed ; 
And for what cause so great mischievous smart 
Was meant to her that never evil meant in heart. 

32 The goodman of this house was Dolon^ hight ; 
A man of subtile* wit and wicked mind, 
That whilom^ in his youth had been a knight. 
And arms had borne, but little good could find. 
And much less honour by that warlike kind 
Of life : for he was nothing valorous, 

But with sly shifts and wiles did ^ undermined 

All noble knights which were adventurous, 

And many brought to shame by treason treacherous. 

^ Bewray, reveal. ^ Whilom, formerly. 

2 Practice, plot. ^ Did, probably a misprint for 

^ Dolon, goodman, master. had. 

* Subtile, subtle. 



BK/ TOM ART. 247 

33 He had three sons, all three like father's sons, 
Like treacherous, like fall of fraud and guile. 
Of all that on this earthly compass wonnes^ : 
The eldest of the which was slain erewhile 

By Artegall, through his own guilty wile ; 
His name was Guizor ; whose untimely fate 
For to avenge, full many treasons vile 
His father Dolon had devised of late 
With these his wicked sons, and showed his 
cank'red hate. 

34 For sure he weened that this his present guest 
Was Artegall, by many tokens plain ; 

But chiefly by that iron page he guessed 
Which still was wont with Artegall remain ; 
And therefore meant him surely to have slain : 
But by God's grace and her good heediness. 
She was preserved from their traitrous traine.^ 
Thus she all night wore out in watchfulness, 
Ne suff'red slothful sleep her eyelids to oppress. 

35 The morrow next, so soon as dawning hour 
Discovered -had the light to living eye, 
She forth issued out of her loathed bow'r,^ 
With full intent t' avenge that villany 

On that vilde * man and all his family : 

And, coming down to seek them where they 

wonned. 
Nor sire, nor sons, nor any could she spy ; 

1 Wonnes, dwells. ^ Bower, chamber. 

2 Tratne, artifice, snare. ■* Vilde, vile. 



248 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Each room she sought, but them all empty fond : 
They all were fled for fear; but whether, nether 
kond.^ 

36 She saw it vain to make there lenger stay. 

But took her steed ; and thereon mounting light, 
Gan her address unto her former way. 
She had not rid the mountenance of a flight,^ 
But that she saw there present in her sight 
Those two false brethren on that perilous bridge, 
On which Pollente with Artegall did fight. 
Strait 2 was the passage, like a ploughed ridge. 
That, if two met, the one mote needs fall over the 
lidge.* 

37 There they did think themselves on her to wreak ^; 
Who as she nigh unto them drew, the one 

These vile reproaches gan unto her speak : 
" Thou recreant false traitor, that with loan 
Of arms hast knighthood stol'n, yet knight art none. 
No more shall now the darkness of the night 
Defend thee from the vengeance of thy fone^ : 
But with thy blood thou shalt appease the sprite ^ 
Of Guizor, by thee slain and murd'red by thy 
sleight." 8 

38 Strange were the words in Britomartis ear ; 
Yet stayed she not for them, but forward fared,^ 

1 Nether kond, neither knew. ^ Wreak, revenge. 

'^ The mountenance of a flight, ^ Tone, foes. 

i.e. a bow-shot. "^ Sprite, spirit. 

3 Strait, narrow. ^ Sleight, artful trick. 

* Lidge, ledge, ^ Fared, proceeded. 



BKITOMART. 249 

Till to the perilous bridge she came ; and there 
Talus desired that he might have prepared 
The way to her, and those two losels ^ scared : 
But she thereat was wroth, that for despite ^ 
The glancing sparkles through her beaver glared, 
And from her eyes did flash out fiery light, 
Like coals that through a silver censer sparkle 
bright. 

39 She stayed not to advise which way to take ; 
But, putting spurs unto her fiery beast. 
Thorough the midst of them she way did make. 
The one of them, which most her wrath increased. 
Upon her spear she bore before her breast. 

Till to the bridge's further end she passed ; 
Where falling down his challenge he released^: 
The other over side the bridge she cast 
Into the river, where he drunk his deadly last. 

40 As when the flashing levin ^ haps to light 
Upon two stubborn oaks, which stand so near 
That way betwixt them none appears in sight ; 
The engine, fiercely flying forth, doth tear 

Th' one from the earth, and through the air doth 

bear ; 
The other it with force doth overthrow 
Upon one side, and from his roots doth rear : 
So did the championess these two there strow, 
And to their sire their carcasses left to bestow. 

1 Losels, good-for-nothings. ^ His challenge he released, i.e. 

2 Despite, vexation. he withdrew his accusation. 

* Levin, lightning. 



XVII. 

After visiting the temple of /sis, Britomart slays Radigimd and frees 
her lover. 

1 Nought is on earth more sacred or divine, 
That gods and men do equally adore, 

Then this same virtue that doth right define : 

For th' heavens themselves, whence mortal men 

implore 
Right in their wrongs, are ruled by righteous lore 
Of highest Jove, who doth true justice deal 
To his inferior gods, and evermore 
Therewith contains ^ his heavenly common-weal : 
The skill whereof to princes' hearts he doth reveal. 

2 Well therefore did the antique world invent 
That Justice was a god of sovereign grace. 
And altars unto him and temples lent,^ 
And heavenly honours in the highest place ; 
Calling him great Osiris,^ of the race 

Of th' old Egyptian kings that whilom were ; 
With feigned colors shading* a true case ; 
For that Osiris, whilst he lived here. 
The justest man alive and truest did appear. 

1 Contains, restrains, governs. divinities of Egypt ; the husband 

2 Lent, furnished. and brother of Isis. 

^ Osiris, one of the principal * Shading, shadowing forth. 



BRITOMART. 251 

3 His wife was Isis ; whom they likewise made 
A goddess of great pow'r and sovereignty, 
And in her person cunningly did shade 
That part of justice which is equity, 
Whereof I have to treat here presently : 
Unto whose temple whenas Britomart 
Arrived, she with great humility 

Did enter in, ne would that night depart ; 
But Talus mote not be admitted to her part. 

4 There she received was in goodly wise 
Of many priests, which duly did attend 
Upon the rites and daily sacrifice, 

All clad in linen robes with silver hemmed ^ ; 

And on their heads with long locks comely kembed ^ 

They wore rich mitres shaped like the moon. 

To show that Isis doth the moon portend ; 

Like as Osiris signifies the sun : 

For that they both like race in equal justice^ run. 

5 The championess them greeting, as she could,* 
Was thence by them into the temple led ; 
Whose goodly building when she did behold 
Borne upon stately pillars, all dispread 

With shining gold, and arched over head, 
She wond'red at the workman's passing^ skill, 
Whose like before she never saw nor read ; 

1 Hemmed, edged. Upton remarks, were forbidden to 

2 Kembed, combed. Prof. Child shave their heads." 

says : " The Egyptian priests were ^ /// equal jiistice, i.e. with the 

bald, while the Jewish priests, as same regularity. 

* As she could, as she knew how. ° Passi)i!^, surpassing. 



252 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

And thereupon long while stood gazing still, 
But thought that she thereon could never gaze her 
fill. 

6 Thenceforth unto the idol ^ they her brought ; 
The which was framed all of silver fine, 

So well as could with cunning hand be wrought. 

And clothed all in garments made of line,^ 

Hemmed all about with fringe of silver twine : 

Upon her head she wore a crown of gold ; 

To show that she had pow'r in things divine : 

And at her feet a crocodile was rolled, 

That with her wreathed tail her middle ^ did enfold. 

7 One foot was set upon the crocodile, 

And on the ground the other fast did stand ; 
So meaning to suppress both forged guile 
And open force : and in her other hand ^ 
She stretched forth a long, white, slender wand. 
Such was the goddess : whom when Britomart 
Had long beheld, herself upon the land ^ 
She did prostrate, and with right humble heart 
Unto herself her silent prayers did impart. 

8 To which the idol as it were inclining. 
Her wand did move with amiable look. 

By outward show her inward sense designing^: 
Who well perceiving how her wand she shook, 

1 The idol, the image of Isis. * In /ler other handy i.e. in one 

2 Line, linen. of her two hands. 

3 Middle, waist. ^ Land, ground. 

* Designing, signifying. 



HRITOMART. 253 

It as a token of good fortune took. 

By this the day with damp was overcast, 

And joyous light the house of Jove forsook: 

Which when she saw, her helmet she unlaced, 

And by the altar's side herself to slumber placed. 

9 For other beds the priests there used none. 
But on their mother Earth's dear lap did lie. 
And bake ^ their sides upon the cold hard stone, 
T' enure themselves to sufferance ^ thereby, 
And proud rebellious flesh to mortify : 
For, by the vow of their religion. 
They tied were to steadfast chastity 
And continence of life ; that, all forgon,^ 
They mote the better tend to their devotion. 

10 Therefore they mote not taste of fleshly food, 
Ne feed on ought the which doth blood contain, 
Ne drink of wine*; for wine they say is blood, 
Even the blood of giants, which were slain 
By thund'ring Jove in the Phlegrean plainer 
For which the Earth, (as they the story tell,) 
Wroth with the gods, which to perpetual pain 
Had damned her sons which gainst them did rebel. 
With inward grief and malice did against them 
swell : 

1 Bake, i.e. make hard. from flesh of all kinds, and they 

2 Sufferance, suffering. drank wine sparingly. 

* All f organ, all foregone, i.e. ^ Phlegrean plain : the volcanic 
everything given up. plain extending along the coast of 

* Therefore they mote not, etc. Campania, Italy, from Cumae to 
The priests of Isis did not abstain Capua. 



254 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

1 1 And of their vital blood, the which was shed 
Into her pregnant bosom, forth she brought 
The fruitful vine ; whose liquor bloody red, 
Having the minds of men with fury fraught,^ 
Mote in them stir up old rebellious thought 
To make new war against the gods again : 
Such is the pow'r of that same fruit, that nought 
The fell ^ contagion may thereof restrain, 

Ne within reason's rule her madding mood contain.^ 

12 There did the warlike maid herself repose. 
Under the wings of Isis all that night ; 

And with sweet rest her heavy eyes did close, 
After that long day's toil and weary plight : 
Where whilst her earthly parts with soft delight 
Of senseless sleep did deeply drowned lie. 
There did appear unto her heavenly sprite 
A wondrous vision, which did close imply* 
The course of all her fortune and posterity. 

The maiden dreamed of flame and tempest, and saw in her dream 
first a crocodile, and then 

13 . . . a lion of great might. 
That shortly did all other beasts subdue : 
With that she waked full of fearful fright. 

And doubtfully dismayed through that so uncouth ^ 
sight. 

14 So thereupon long while she musing lay. 
With thousand thoughts feeding her fantasy ; 

1 Fratight, filled. ^ Contain, restrain. 

2 Fell, fierce. * Close imply, secretly infold. 

5 Unco2ithy strange. 



BRITOMART. 255 

Until she spied the lamp of lightsome day 
Up-lifted in the porch of heaven high : 
Then up she rose, fraught with melancholy, 
And forth into the lower parts did pass, 
Whereas, the priests she found full busily 
About their holy things for morrow mass ; 
Whom she saluting fair, fair resaluted was : 

1 5 But, by the change of her uncheerful look, 

They might perceive she was not well in plight. 
Or that some pensiveness to heart she took : 
Therefore thus one of them, who seemed in sight 
To be the greatest and the gravest wight. 
To her bespake : " Sir knight, it seems to me 
That, thorough evil rest of this last night. 
Or ill apayed ^ or much dismayed ye be ; 
That by your change of cheer is easy for to see." 

i6 " Certes," ^ said she, " sith ye so well have spied 
The troublous passion of my pensive mind, 
I will not seek the same from you to hide ; 
But will my cares unfold in hope to find 
Your aid to guide me out of error blind." 
" Say on," quoth he, "the secret of your heart 
For, by the holy vow which me doth bind, 
I am adjured best counsel to impart 
To all that shall require my comfort in their smart." 

1 7 Then gan she to declare the whole discourse 
Of all that vision which to her appeared, 

1 /// apayed, ill content. 2 Certes, truly. 



256 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

As well as to her mind it had recourse.^ 
All which when he unto the end had heard, 
Like to a weak, faint-hearted man he fared,^ 
Through great astonishment of that strange sight ; 
And, with long locks up-standing, stiffly, stared 
Like one adawed ^ with some dreadful Sprite ^ : 
So filled with heavenly fury, thus he her behight ^ : 

1 8 "Magnifick virgin, that in quaint^ disguise 
Of British arms dost mask thy royal blood. 
So to pursue a perilous emprise " ; 

How couldst thou ween, through that disguised 

hood,^ 
To hide thy state from being understood ? 
Can from th' immortal gods ought hidden be ? 
They do thy linage, and thy lordly brood. 
They do thy sire lamenting sore for thee, 
They do thy love forlorn in women's thraldom see. 

19 " The end whereof, and all the long event, 
They do to thee in this same dream discover : 
For that same crocodile doth represent 

The righteous knight that is thy faithful lover, 

Like to Osiris in all just endeavor : 

For that same crocodile Osiris is. 

That under Isis' feet doth sleep forever ; 

To show that clemence oft, in things amiss. 

Restrains those stern behests and cruel dooms of his. 

1 It had recmcrse, it did recur. ^ Behight, addressed. 

2 He fared, he was affected. ^ Quaint, ingenious. 

^ Adawed, confounded. "^ Emprise, enterprise. 

* Sprite, spirit. ^ Hood, mask. 



BRITOMART. 2 

20 " That kniffht shall all the troublous storms 



'&' 



And raging flames, that many foes shall rear ^ 
To hinder thee from the just heritage 
Of thy sire's crown, and from thy country dear : 
Then shalt thou take him to thy loved fere,^ 
And join in equal portion of thy realm : 
And afterwards a son to him shalt bear, 
That lion-like shall show his pow'r extreme. 
So bless thee God, and give thee joyance of thy 
dream ! " 

21 All which when she unto the end had heard, 
She much was eased in her troublous thought. 
And on those priests bestowed rich reward ; 
And royal gifts of gold and silver wrought 
She for a present to their goddess brought. 
Then taking leave of them, she forward went, 
To seek her love, where he was to be sought, 
Ne rested till she came without relent ^ 
Unto the land of amazons, as she was bent. 

22 Whereof when news to Radigund was brought. 
Not with amaze, as women wonted be. 

She was confused in her troublous thought, 
But filled with courage and with joyous glee. 
As glad to hear of arms, the which now she 
Had long surceased,* she bade to open bold. 
That she the face of her new foe might see : 

1 Rear, raise, excite. 3 j^elent, delay. 

2 fgyg^ mate, companion. ^ Surceased, i.e. ceased using. 



258 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

But when they of that iron man had told, 
Which late her folk had slain, she bade them forth 
to hold.i 

23 So there without the gate, as seemed best, 
She caused her pavilion be pight ^ ; 

In which stout ^ Britomart herself did rest. 
Whiles Talus watched at the door all night. 
All night likewise they of the town in fright 
Upon their wall good watch and ward did keep. 
The morrow next, so soon as dawning light 
Bade do away the damp of drowsy sleep, 
The warlike amazon out of her bow'r did peep ; 

24 And caused straight a trumpet loud to shrill. 
To warn her foe to battle soon be prest ^ ; 
Who, long before awoke, (for she full ill 
Could sleep all night, that in unquiet breast 
Did closely^ harbour such a jealous^ guest,) 
Was to the battle whilom " ready dight,^ 
Eftsoones ^ that warrioress with haughty crest 
Did forth issue, all ready for the fight ; 

On th' other side the foe appeared soon in sight. 

25 But, ere they reared hand, the amazone 
Began the strait ^^ conditions to propound. 



She bade them forth to hold, i.e. ■* P7'est, ready. 



she bade them to proceed, to go ^ Closely, secretly. 

outside the walls. As she feared ^ jealous, suspicious. 

Talus, she would not allow him to '^Whilom, means here, some 

enter the city. time before. 

2 Eight, pitched. ^ Dight, prepared. 

3 Stout, dauntless. ^ Eftsoones, immediately. 

10 Strait, strict, severe. 



BRITOMART. 259 

With which she used still to tie her fone,^ 

To serve her so, as she the rest had bound : 

Which when the other heard, she sternly frowned 

For high disdain of such indignity, 

And would no lenger treat, but bade them sound : 

For her no other terms should ever tie 

Then what prescribed were by laws of chivalry. 

26 The trumpets sound, and they together run 

With greedy rage, and with their falchions smot ; 
Ne either sought the other's strokes to shun. 
But through great fury both their skill forgot, 
And practicke ^ use in arms ; . . . 



2^] As when a tiger and a lioness 

Are met at spoiling of some hungry prey, 
Both challenge ^ it with equal greediness : 
But first the tiger claws thereon did lay ; 
And therefore, loath to lose her right away. 
Doth in defence thereof full stoutly stond : 
To which the lion strongly doth gainsay, 
That she to hunt the beast first took in bond, 
And therefore ought it have wherever she it fond. 

28 Full fiercely laid the amazon about, 
And dealt her blows unmercifully sore ; 
Which Britomart withstood with courage stout, 
And then repaid again with double more. 
So long they fought, that all the grassy floor 

1 Fone, foes. 2 Practicke, practiced. 

3 Challenge, claim. 



260 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

Was filled with blood which from their sides did flow, 
And gushed through their arms, that all in gore 
They trode, and on the ground their lives did strow. 
Like fruitless seed, of which untimely death should 
grow. 

29 At last proud Radigund with fell despite,^ 
Having by chance espied advantage near. 
Let drive at her with all her dreadful might. 
And thus upbraiding said : " This token bear 
Unto the man whom thou dost love so dear ; 
And tell him for his sake thy life thou gavest." 
Which spiteful words she sore engrieved to hear, 
Thus answered : " Lewdly ^ thou my love depravest,^ 
Who shortly must repent that now so vainly 

bravest." 

30 Nathless that stroke so cruel passage found. 
That, glancing on her shoulder-plate, it bit 
Unto the bone, and made a grisly * wound, 
That she her shield through raging smart of it 
Could scarce uphold ; yet soon she it requit ; 
For, having force increased through furious pain, 
She her so rudely on the helmet smit, 

That it empierced to the very brain. 

And her proud person low prostrated on the plain. 

3 1 Where being laid, the wrothful Britoness 
Stayed not till she came to herself again ; 
But in revenge both of her love's distress 

1 Fell despite^ fierce hatred. ^ Depravest, defamest. 

2 Lewdly, impudently. * Grisly, dreadful. 



BRITOMART. 1(A 

And her late vile reproach, though vaunted vain, 
And also of her wound, which sore did pain. 
She with one stroke both head and helmet cleft : 
Which dreadful sight when all her ^ warlike train 
There present saw, each one, of sense bereft, 
Fled fast into the town, and her sole victor left. 

32 But yet so fast they could not home retrate, 
But that swift Talus did the foremost win ^ ; 
And, pressing through the preace ^ unto the gate, 
Pellmell with them at once did enter in : 

There then a piteous slaughter did begin ; 
For all that ever came within his reach 
He with his iron flail did thresh so thin. 
That he no work at all left for the leech * ; 
Like to an hideous storm which nothing may em- 
peach.^ 

33 And now by this the noble conqueress 
Herself came in, her glory to partake ; 
Where though revengeful vows she did profess. 
Yet, when she saw the heaps which he did make 
Of slaught'red carcasses, her heart did quake 
For very ruth,^ which did it almost rive,'^ 

That she his fury willed him to slake ^ : 
For else he sure had left not one alive ; 
But all, in his revenge, of spirit ^ would deprive. 

1 Her, i.e. Radigund's. ^ Empeach, hinder. 

2 Win, overtake. ^ Rnth, pity. 

3 Preace, press. '^ Rive, rend. 
* I.cech, physician. ^ Slake, allay. 

^ Spirit, here, breath. 



262 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

34 Tho,^ when she had his execution stayed, 
She for that iron prison did inquire, 

In which her wretched love was captive laid : 

Which breaking open with indignant ire, 

She ent'red into all the parts entire ^ : 

Where when she saw that loathly uncouth ^ sight 

Of men disguised in womanish attire. 

Her heart gan grudge ^ for very deep despite 

Of so unmanly mask in misery misdight.^ 

35 At last whenas to her own love she came, 
Whom like disguise no less deformed had. 
At sight thereof abashed with secret shame, 
She turned her head aside, as nothing glad 
To have beheld a spectacle so bad ; 

And then too well believed that which tofore 
Jealous suspect as true untruly drad ^ : 
Which vain conceit now nourishing no more, 
She sought with ruth to salve his sad misfortune's 
sore. 

36 Not so great wonder and astonishment 
Did the most chaste Penelope ^ possess. 
To see her lord, that was reported drent ^ 
And dead long since in dolorous distress, 
Come home to her in piteous wretchedness, 

1 Tho, then. without reason. She at first be- 

2 Efitire, interior. lieved that Artegall had been false 

3 Uncouth, strange. to her and had given his affection 
* Grudge, grow indignant. to Radigund. 

^ Misdight, wrongly clad. ''' Penelope, the wife of Ulysses, 

® Untruly drad, i.e. suspected the hero of Homer's " Odyssey." 
8 Drent, drenched, drowned. 



BRITOMART. 263 

After long travel of full twenty years ; 
That she knew not his favor's likeliness,^ 
For many scars and many hoary hairs ; 
But stood long staring on him mongst uncertain 
fears. 

ly '' Ah ! my dear lord, what sight is this ? " quoth she ; 
" What May-game ^ hath misfortune made of you ? 
Where is that dreadful manly look ? where be 
Those mighty palms, the which ye wont t' embrue 
In blood of kings, and great hosts to subdue ? 
Could ought on earth so wondrous change have 

wrought. 
As to have robbed you of that manly hue ? 
Could so great courage stooped have to ought ? 
Then farewell, fleshly force ; I see thy pride is 

naught ! " 

38 Thenceforth she straight unto a bow'r^ him brought, 
And caused him those uncomely weeds undight * ; 
And in their stead for other raiment sought. 
Whereof there was great store, and armors bright, 
Which had been reft from ^ many a noble knight. 
Whom that proud amazon subdued had. 
Whilst fortune favored her success in fight : 
In which whenas she him anew had clad. 
She was revived, and joyed much in his semblance^ 
glad. 

* Those uncomely weeds undight, 

1 His favor 'j- likeliness, i.e. the i.e. to lay aside those unbecoming 
likeness of his countenance. garments. 

2 May-game, sport. ^ Reft frovi, taken from. 
^ Bower, room. * Semblance, appearance. 



264 THE FAERY QUEENE. 

39 So there awhile they afterwards remained, 
Him to refresh, and her late wounds to heal : 
During which space she there as princess reigned ; 
And, changing all that form of common-weal. 

The liberty of women did repeal, 
Which they had long usurped ; and, them restoring 
To men's subjection, did true justice deal : 
That all they, as a goddess her adoring, 
Her wisdom did admire,^ and heark'ned to her 
loring.2 

40 For all those knights, which long in captive shade 
Had shrouded been, she did from thraldom free ; 
And magistrates of all that city made. 

And gave to them great living and large fee^: 

And, that they should forever faithful be, 

Made them swear fealty to Artegall : 

Who when himself now well recured did see, 

He purposed to proceed, whatso befall. 

Upon his first adventure * which him forth did call. 

41 Full sad and sorrowful was Britomart 
For his departure, her new cause of grief; 
Yet wisely moderated her own smart. 
Seeing his honor, which she tend'red chief,^ 
Consisted much in that adventure's priefe^: 
The care whereof, and hope of his success. 
Gave unto her great comfort and relief, 

1 Admire, wonder at. to deliver Irena from the oppres- 

2 Loring, teaching. sion of Grantorto. 

^ Fee, possessions. ^ Which she tendered chief, i.e. 

* His first adventure ; this was for which she had cared most of all. 
* Priefe, proof, achievement. 



BRITOMART. 265 

That womanish complaints she did repress, 
And temp'red for the time her present heaviness. 

42 There she continued for a certain space, 

Till through his want ^ her woe did more increase : 
Then, hoping that the change of air and place 
Would change her pain, and sorrow somewhat ease. 
She parted thence, her anguish to appease. 
Meanwhile her noble lord. Sir Artegall, 
Went on his way, ne ever hour did cease, 
Till he redeemed had that lady thrall : 
That for another canto will more fitly fall. 

Spenser relates Artegall's further adventures, but does not again 
mention Britomart. However, since both Merlin and the priest of Isis 
have prophesied her happy union with the knight of Justice, we are 
not left in doubt regarding her future. 

1 His tuanty i.e. her want of him. 



INDEX 



TO PORTIONS OF THE FAERY QUEENE INCLUDED 
IN BRITOMART. 



Britomart : Introductory stanzas, page i. 

The Faery Queene : Introduction to Book III. 

Part I, page 5. 

F. Q. Book III; canto i; stanzas i, 3-34, 38, 40-46, 51, 57, 58, 
62 (beginning with line 7), 63-67. 

Part II, page 25. 

F, Q. Book III; canto ii ; stanzas 1-40, 42,43 (beginning with 
line 8), 44-52. 

Part III, page 46. 

F. Q. Book III ; canto iii ; stanzas 1-12, 14-27, 42-62. 

Part IV, page 65. 

F. Q. Book III; canto iv ; stanzas 1-45. 

Part V, page 84. 

/'. Q. Book III ; canto ix; stanzas 9-24, 32, 53. 

Part VI, page 92. 

F. Q. Book III; canto vi; stanzas 28, 29, 42-45, 51-53- 

Part VII, page 97. 

F. Q. Book III; canto xi; stanzas 1-29, 45-55. 



268 INDEX. 

Part VIII, page 113. 

F. Q. Book III; canto xii; stanzas 1-45. 

Part IX, page 131. 

F. Q. Book IV; canto i; stanzas 1-7, 9-21, 32-54. 

Part X, page 148. 

F. Q. Book IV; canto iv; stanzas 13 (beginning with line 5)-48. 

Part XI, page 163. 

F. Q. Book IV; canto v; stanzas i, 2, 6-17, 19-46. 

Part XII, page i8o. 

F. Q. Book IV; canto vi; stanzas 1-47. 

Part XIII, page 199. 

F. Q. Book IV; canto ix ; stanzas 22-41. 

Part XIV, page 208. 

F. Q. Book V; canto i; stanzas 1-13: canto iv ; stanzas 20 (be- 
ginning with line 8)-5i. 

Part XV, page 225. 

F. Q. Book V; canto v; stanzas 1-14, 16-26. 

Part XVI, page 235. 

F. Q. Book V; canto vi; stanzas 1-40. 

Part XVII, page 250. 

F. Q. Book V; canto vii ; stanzas 1-12, 16 (beginning with line 
6)-42. 



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